You Want It All But You Can't Have It

What is it?,

Michelle

let me just say these things...

Two of my heroes have passed away in the last 48 hours.

JD Salinger is one of the reasons I spend sleepless nights writing. He is the reason I took writing classes in college and he is one of the reasons I love books as much as I do. He is, and always has been on my list of top five favorite authors. And, if I were lost on a desert island, "Franny and Zooey" would need to be one of the five books by my side.


Then there is Howard Zinn, this is someone I could write a book about. I could probably write hundreds of pages on how his work changed my life when I was in college and making phone call after phone call for the John Kerry presidential campaign. He and Plato (no, seriously) are the reasons why I went for a degree in Political Science instead of English Literature.

I believe that every high school student should be required to read "A People's History of America." It is not leftist propaganda - it is a beautiful, honest telling of the American story. I also think "You Can't Be Neutral on A Moving Train" is one of the most important books ever written. I think my respect and admiration for Howard Zinn comes from his ability to be so politically active and hold such strong opinions while still writing the most brutally honest and beautiful history of the United States of America that has ever existed. His respect of the truth defined him and every student, every citizen should know his work - even if they disagree with his political actions.

Kat

Is it ok if I wear giant skirts everyday?

I took a sewing lesson from my godmother and I learned to make an amazing circle skirt (photos soon I promise) but it made me go on a pattern hunt for all of those vintage dresses I want to wear daily....



All of these were found here...she has an insane collection of patterns!!!

I am just obsessed,
Kat (aka the snail)

Top Ten Things to Do If You DON'T Want to Make Out With Me

1. Please don't engage me in any sort of witty banter.

2. Don't make me laugh. Ever.

3. Have a goatee. Or wear turtlenecks. Definitely do both at the same time.

4. Make me feel bad about my job, ambition, and living situation. Or any of the above.

5. Be like, REALLY into Nickleback/Creed/(insert generic "alternative rock" band here).

6. Don't call me when you say you're going to.

7. Don't read. Don't listen to music. Don't be able to talk about the books you read
and the music you listen to.

8. Don't react or respond to the stories I tell. Feel free to drop and even destroy the conversation ball.

9. Be really rude to my friends. Or even moderately rude to them.

10. Try hard not to be really passionate about anything. If you are passionate about something,
please don't let it show.

xoxo,
michelle

I Wanna Go Out With A Lion's Roar...

You guys, I CAN'T BELIEVE that I have lived twenty-three years and had never seen a Cyndi Lauper video. This is what happens when you grow up without cable, folks. Look, I've been a long-time Cyndi-devotee, particularly the She's So Unusual album (which had a profound effect on me when I stole it from my father's CD collection in seventh grade) but the recent video binge I've gone on has taken my love of Cyndi to new heights. Suddenly, I'm finding it hard to resist the urge to dye my hair pink and fill my wardrobe with tulle and neon. But really, why resist, right? This video might be my favorite (though it's a little slow in the beginning). Cyndi is totally rad and nothing short of an 80's version of Clara Bow.

Rainy Days Are The Best

It wont stop raining in California. We need it the rain so I wont complain. And the rain has led to a lot of tea drinking, book reading, npr listening, music loving, and creative making time. But it has also caused me to join twitter (out of boredom) and become really restless (because I just got a really inspired painting project and need to be able to go outside to do it! )

If you haven't noticed I am a big fan of bands finding strange places to record and strange ways to create music...this is an all time favorite. Rainy days make me LOVE arcade fire all over again...



And one of my favorite new bands - this isn't a live performance but is still adorable...



happy rainy day,
kat (the snail)

I Love The Sound of You Walkin Away

How wonderful is Sunday morning? So filled with possibility.
Well guys, here are some Very Important Goals that I accomplished today:
-Went to Nadoz Cafe for Brunch Club with Mallory and Bre. Had a salmon BLT. The B was better than the salmon.
-Wandered around Urban Outfitters, decided not to buy these even though I was REALLY tempted. Gotta save money for Spain. (But wouldn't I look awesome wearing those in Spain???)
-Watched The Jungle Book with Kev and Mom.
-Worked on some sketches for Willy Wonka, which I am set and costuming.
-Painted my nails DARK purple
-Read "Cornflakes With John Lennon" which was highly recommended by Kat then promptly checked out from my fav library.

Success!

Anyway, this video kind of sums up how I've been feeling this week. In a good way.



Love,
Michelle

And Time Keeps Draggin' On...

Apparently all of the greatest mugshots were taken in the 70s.

Patty Hearst/Tania was arrested in San Francisco in 1975 for armed robbery.

(Of course, this was after she was kidnapped and possibly brainwashed by the Symbionese Liberation Army. Fun fact... when she was arrested she listed her occupation as "Urban Guerilla".)

Keith Richards and Mick Jagger were arrested in Warwick, Rhode Island in 1972 for assault and obstructing the police.

(I think Mick was actually the one obstructing the police. From arresting Keith.)

Jane Fonda was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio in 1970 for drug possesion.

(Most bitchin mugshot ever, no?)

David Bowie was arrested in Rochester, New York in 1970 for possesion of marijuana.

(Bowie was pretty hot in the 70s. He looks almost as saucy as Jane Fonda.)

I aint seen the sunshine since I don't know when,
Michelle

musical wednesday

Bathroom Performances:



Michelle and I saw her open for the Avett's and she was lovely...She lives the life I dream about at night.



I am waiting for the morning I wake up and am tired of Lykke Li. I don't think it will ever happen.

Not a bathroom related performance but a tiny desk concert of a new band I am loving on long walks and such...here they are doing a cover...



xoxo,
kat

Born To Be Bad!

"I wanna be evil, I wanna spit tacks

I wanna be evil, and cheat at jacks

I wanna be wicked, I wanna tell lies

I wanna be mean, and throw mud pies"

"He used to act bad, used to but he quit it.
It makes me so sad, cause I know that he did it for me,

can't you see
I can see he's still in the street

his heart, out in the street."

"Call me mean, or call me evil.

I've been call much of somethings, all things around.

But I'm gonna take good care of Janis, yeah

Honey, aint no one gonna dog me down."

"I called my mother from Hollywood the other day.

And I said, Mom, I just called to tell you I joined a rock n roll band

and I won't be comin home no more.

You know what she did?

She started cryin and wheepin and wimperin like all mothers do

she woke up my father and told him about it and he said

There aint a damn thing we can do, that's the way she is.

She was just born to be bad!"

xo, michelle

and another thing...

I am not a big fan of Puma but I am a HUGE fan of penguins. (photo found here)

Kat

Things that are insane....

First of all - What was I thinking? 36 inches = 3 feet. I know this and yet I purchased (from ebay, for super cheap) THIS monster light tent. I love it, it's super fun and awesome. I feel like I can take amazing much more professional photos for my etsy store with this and blah blah blah but holy crap. Where am I going to put this thing!??!?!?!

I am going to figure this out today.

maybe.

xoxo,
the snail

Girls Want To Be With The Girls

This is adorable.



Also, this song always reminds me of Mallory cause once she put it on a mix tape for me.

-michelle

Self-Portrait as Monster

Roaring My Terrible Roar,

Michelle

i have a new obsession in life....

(love the little bird)

(a family)

If you can't tell I am currently in love with amigurumi.

(super mario love)

It's just the silliest of silly and I adore it.

xoxo,

the snail (aka kat)

Anticipation and Slumberland

It's snowing in St. Louis and all I want to do is drink hot tea and read Frank O'Hara.

Lately I've been thinking very seriously about expectations. Those I have of myself and other people and how much it can hurt when they aren't fulfilled. I truly think it's better, though maybe not possible, to have no expectations and to make no attempt to anticipate future events. Aren't the best nights the ones when we have no plans? I love the freedom that comes from complete openness. Although, really, I think it's easier to have very low expectations and be pleasantly surprised. I will try to be more open. I will try not to anticipate.

Anyway, this seems appropriate tonight. I want to hibernate in Frank's poems for a while.

Aus einem April

We dust the walls.

And of course we are weeping larks

falling all over the heavens with our shoulders clasped

in someone's armpits, so tightly! and our throats are full.

Haven't you ever fallen down at Christmas

and didn't it move everyone who saw you?

isn't that what the tree means? the pure pleasure

of making weep those whom you cannot move by your flights!

It's enough to drive one to suicide.

And the rooftops are falling apart like the applause

of rough, long-nailed, intimate, roughened-by-kisses, hands.

Fingers more breathless than a tongue laid upon the lips

in the hour of sunlight, early morning, before the mist rolls

in from the sea; and out there everything is turbulent and green.

Totally expectation-free,
Michelle

PS- that's a page from Winsor McCay's Little Nemo in Slumberland. Isn't his style dreamy?

Hello, 2010

Michelle did a pretty awesome list of things to do this new year and I agree with all of them. I even put on some of my new thrift store finds today to make sure I am always wearing exactly what I want to - no matter how ridiculous (this theory is really going to help with the new awesome snow bunny vest I got - seriously need some leg warmers to go with it...asap.)

I have a total lack of photos at the moment because a) my dad needs his camera for work, b) my sister has failed to post holiday photos and c) I am anxiously awaiting my new fancy photo light box!!!! But I do have this one to share - it shows several of my new years resolutions being achieved on New Years Eve...



But here is a small list of things I am going to do this year....

1)Eat in more and by more I mean at least two meals a day. Pack picnics, lunches, snacks, utilize slow cooker on busy days, eat more from the garden (we frequently grow ignored vegatables).

2) Buy clothes that are thrifted, handmade, or vintage ONLY. The exception is obvious - underwear, leggings/hosiery, and undershirts. (this one is a six month goal that acutally started in December)

3) Travel more.

4) Perform once a week - if I don't have time to do an open mike or the resources to do a concert than I will post a youtube performance instead.

5) Move out of my dad's house.

6) Learn to sew my own clothes - for serious.

xoxo,
the snail

Things to Do In 2010

-Go to Spain. Or maybe Italy. Or Greece.

-Buy more records. Listen to them carefully.

-Take a picture with Leslie Hall

-Kiss lots of boys. Or one boy. A lot.

-Save a ton of money

-Move out. Move somewhere wonderful.

-Talk about (like, seriously discuss) art, music, movies, and books as much as possible.

-Wear EXACTLY what you want everday. Look ridiculous. It's OK.

-Draw. Seriously. Draw draw draw.

-Don't wait around for anyone.

-Have a lot of adventures and don't forget any of them. Take pictures. Write.

Look! I've already completed one resolution!

Love,

Michelle

Don't Be Upset, You Know That You're Wonderful.

Sorry I didn't post anything last week. Everything I want to write about right now seems self indulgent and silly. I guess that's what blogs are for, really.

Anyway guys, I really like Jeffrey Lewis. Watch this video.



xo,
Michelle