misfit hue photography

theme game...

2012-01-23T01:57:00.000-06:00

it's a new year, and busy as i have been, i've taken up a challenge with a group of friends. we call it the 52 theme project. each one of us comes up with a theme and then we interpret it with one photo. this past week it was my turn and i chose foam. a brown cow offers oooooodles of foam!

hmmmm something is missing....

ahhhh, now we've got a treat!

amanda + joey

2011-12-19T02:20:00.001-06:00

on october 29, 2011, amanda and joey were married. crystal rolfe and i were lucky enough to shoot this absolutely wonderful couple as the celebrated their special day... here are some of my pics. congratulations to the amazing couple!

rockin the party bus...

2011-11-06T12:54:00.001-06:00

i had the privilege of shooting a lovely bride-to-be's bachelorette party... we had a BLAST! what a fun bunch of ladies!

the party bus is stocked and the girls are ready to go surprise the bride!

perhaps the biggest burrito i have ever seen!

the bride and her sister are ready for the first stop!

the bride and her posse...

line up those shots!

a great maid of honor and awesome photog assistant!

rockin' the party bus!

the bride and her girls arrive at wild country...

what a great night! best wishes, Amanda!

bailey and julie

2011-08-08T22:29:00.001-05:00

i did a little photo shoot with my friend, julie and her very good friend, bailey the kitty.

i am ready for my close up, mr. demille

practice...

2011-07-27T22:43:00.000-05:00

last saturday, i had the pleasure of photographing a knights baseball practice. these boys were absolutely fantastic--smiling for me and practicing hard in 90+ heat. they were prepping for a tournament this weekend and i wish them the best! i think they are going to rock!

models and more models...

2011-05-30T16:26:00.000-05:00

it is so nice to work with models. it is good to practice posing and then step back later to see what worked and what did not. i love it and wish i could do more of it.

studio altius in maplewood held an open model shoot in april and i'm still picking through the few hundred shots and editing, but here are a few favourites from the day. there will be more...

blink, a closing...

2011-03-30T18:52:00.002-05:00

for the past seven weeks a collection of my photographs have been on display at the new Lotus Arts Studio West on Cherokee Street. this friday, we are having a closing reception... please, come on by!

Brian Greenway, a fab songsmith, will be playing two sets, at 8pm and 9pm. i believe he'll be unveiling some new songs at the show. i've heard one of them, and i can't wait to hear more!

there will also be free beverages and light snacks.

if you'd like to see what i'm showing before you come by, click here.

the studio is at the corner of Jefferson and Cherokee, just across the street from Foam-- a fantastic coffee house.

freaquinox

2011-03-20T12:52:00.002-05:00

IMG_0319, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i went to an event friday night on cherokee street. everyone seemed to have a marvelous time! click the photo for more pictures--there are lots!

crowded house

2011-03-05T12:22:00.006-06:00

duckie, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.
my home is crowded. i have a cat and a bird and i live in a tiny studio.

i've never been one to keep things, especially stuffed animals or toys. however, these guys are my exceptions. let me introduce you to duckie, dean, vern and petey.

duckie was an xmas gift and he's a super stud. dean came from a museum, somewhere, sometime... he's timeless. vern came on board during the great fish tour of 2007--3 aquariums, 3 cities, 3 days. petey the weasel is a handmade snuggle that i adopted during a charity event.

these are my exceptions to my no clutter rule and they are some extra special dudes.

look in the sky...

2011-01-20T13:08:00.028-06:00

IMG_8599, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i went eagle watching last weekend. it's a tradition i try to keep up every year. i used to count how many i spied, but have given up. the last time i counted 67, and the first year, in the late 90's, i counted 8.

i've decided to take their picture instead. here are a few of my favs from my last trip.

A mature eagle

An immature eagle

waiting for her to take flight!

kristi and matthew...

2011-01-02T18:11:00.000-06:00

back in july, a fellow photog friend married her longtime love and asked me to capture the couples' day. i was honored, to say the least. the wedding was elegant and simple. kristi made everything that she could herself--including a personalized cupcake topper! here are a few of my favs from kristi and matthew's special day!

purge...

2011-01-02T17:31:00.000-06:00

back in september, i participated in the challenge 2,010, 30 items in 30 days. the idea was to get at least 67 people to donate one item per day and donate a total of 2,010 items. all of this in an effort to make us more aware of all the stuff we have.

i signed up, and oh my, did i become aware of how much stuff i had. i decided to make a little photo project out of it. these are all the things that left my tiny studio to find a deserving home. most of my items were clothing and donated to goodwill, some of them went to individual charity drives at work.

what hangs on your review mirror?

2011-01-02T16:46:00.001-06:00

IMG_8471, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

the sun was brilliant today and the most random of objects were stunning.

the doors of christmas day...

2010-12-29T01:37:00.000-06:00

we went out to walk the pup in the snow and i grabbed my camera on the way. i have been noticing the doors in my boyfriend's neighborhood. here are a few that caught my eye that day.

my happy place...

2010-12-17T01:31:00.000-06:00

the title says it all.

stranger in the park...

2010-12-11T00:07:00.000-06:00

i was out shooting a location when i stumbled upon this woman and little girl...

first flurries...

2010-12-04T04:48:00.000-06:00

we had our first snow flurries here in the lou on thanksgiving. as soon as i see flakes, i think of hiking in the snow and sledding art hill in forest park.

art hill is a wondrous place. in the blanket of silence a good snow offers, there is nothing better than to hear the laughter of young and old alike as they sled on everything from cardboard to sassy snow boards.

those first snow flakes have me looking to the skies... will i actually sled the hill this year? i never have, and being born and raised in the lou, it's a crime that i've not. maybe this year.

skies of far away places...

2010-12-02T23:48:00.001-06:00

i have many photos from prince edward island and like little hidden treasures, i keep stumbling upon them in my files.

i love to travel, so the world around me is always changing. in contrast, i have my home base, my hub, my zen zone. i cherish my roots.

but, a large part of my heart is out there... out where the skies make heaven seem only a whisper away.

a light

2010-11-30T22:49:00.000-06:00

just a little light at missiouri botanical gardens...

i am a mexican hairless...

2010-11-28T16:38:00.001-06:00

i am a mexican hairless, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

we went to a dog parade this summer. it was crazy hot, but the fire department kindly opened some hydrants for the super thirsty puppies.

this is one of the pups we met. a mexican hairless feels really funny, but this dude was soooo friendly. he kissed the camera.

graceland...

2010-11-19T13:03:00.001-06:00

IMG_2687, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

there is no place like graceland. it's mythic, iconic, legendary.

the dude and i were there in august, and this is the living room... it's simply gorgeous.

we are leaving right now... the dude is calling me from the car. we are heading to memphis for the flipping of the switch--the christmas lights at graceland!

in the beginning there was sun...

2010-11-18T13:21:00.001-06:00

IMG_2478, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

this lovely girl led our tour through sun studios in memphis--and she was a great storyteller too.

i hope you get to meet her if you make it to sun. her enthusiasm for the studio and its history was contagious.

standing in the studio where so much musical history was created was a truly stellar experience and, well, insanely cool.

big boy...

2010-11-15T13:58:00.001-06:00

IMG_7298, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i took the day off and the dude took me to the zoo. it was a blast and a real treat to be there on what was declared by the weather folks as the last warm day of the year.

this gorilla is presently acknowledging the dude who was insisting on his attention. in the next shot, the gorilla stuck out his tongue at him! it was a riot!

casablanca

2010-11-12T12:53:00.001-06:00

casablanca, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

a fan to keep you cool at the boathouse in forest park... a place that, for me, is like a little slice of fairy tale.

veterans and star-spangled icons

2010-11-11T13:19:00.004-06:00

star-spangled icon, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

you know that giant flag that the fireman hang for events? i walked up to it and shot this at the Obama rally in st louis on october 18, 2008. that is the st louis arch, gateway to the west, behind it.

i see perseverance, endurance, commitment and change in this shot. that is what both of these individual icons means to me.

today, i post it for the veterans that we celebrate today.

thank you.

snow burst or snow globe?

2010-11-10T16:04:00.003-06:00

snowburst, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

another random shot, and most of the time, i like my randoms best!

i took this while i was out eagle watching 2 years ago with my beat-to-hell, hand-me-down sony cybershot.

after working with my 50d, which i love, i often think my shots with this gimpy little guy were some of my best. just proves, the camera does NOT make the photographer.

the weather that day was incredibly random with extremes from brilliant sun to snow bursts. every time i look at this, i feel like i'm peering into a snow globe.

and now, i'm excited to take the 50d out in january to see what eagle shots i can get. hurry up winter!!

what do words say...

2010-11-09T13:50:00.001-06:00

i have a word fetish. yup, i'm admitting it. i sometimes write a word on a scrap of paper and slip it into my pocket. it can make a profound impact on my day and the way i perceive things. it works for me. :)

my favourite word is "plethora." i like the way it sounds, its definition, the way it is spelled and the way it makes me feel when i say it. a friend, knowing this, gave me a necklace with word on it, and it's one of my prize possessions.

i also take photos of words. there is a fountain in tower grove park that has a couple of quotes on it... i chose the word in the quotes that most struck me in the moment i was there shooting on a steamy july evening at twilight.

between the extremes, i found peace. it is the middle way.

bike in belfast...

2010-11-08T16:15:00.000-06:00

on the last day in Maine, i shot a lot of things randomly. i think it is rather amazing that neither i nor that rental car were injured on that trip. every time i saw something interesting, i took the opportunity to pull over, whip a u-turn, stop on a dime... and sometimes, i was rather close to cliffs, ditches and the ocean.

it was absolutely the most incredible feeling to be lead along the coast by only my eyes, and on this last day, i milked the very last strands of light from the horizon and pushed my camera to its limits. i don't think i ate or drank or used the bathroom till the light was completely, utterly gone.

precious hours.

drum-ography

2010-11-04T07:54:00.002-05:00

IMG_5911, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i took these at the people's parade during cinco de mayo on cherokee street. i loved the drummer's performance, their choreography.

día de los muertos

2010-11-02T18:36:00.000-05:00

yup, that's me and the dude celebrating all hallow's eve... and day of the dead. i was a go-go dancer. :)

forgotten...

2010-11-01T13:02:00.000-05:00

i carried my summer clothes to the basement of my building on a brilliant friday afternoon. autumn light is something not to be missed, especially when it is lighting up forgotten items in the corners.

10.10.10

2010-10-17T21:02:00.000-05:00

i participated in a flickr group that asked you to document where you were on october 10, 2010. after posting to the site, i thought i'd share with you.

do you remember where you were or what you were doing? it's not like where were you when they walked on the moon, but participating reminded me to try to be present daily, not just on a nifty date.

our day.... started with me hanging out the window taking pictures of tower grove park. i love that my boyfriend drives a lot so i get to look around and enjoy the world.

our first stop of the day was at schnucks grocery where i was immediately smitten by a giant display of halloween captain crunch. ohhhh i wanted some so much!!

a missing stud in his belt.

next we stopped at Petsmart for Chopper goodies and i met Felix the cat... i really want another kitty.

a quick hello to the birdies.

before we pick up our lunch, i need a pumpkin latte. tis the season and all.

on our way into Jimmy Johns, i spotted these murals and had to photograph them.

Gotta get us home in time for kick off! Can't be late for the RAMS game!

with the game over, it's time to walk Chopper. here are some shots from around the neighborhood...

last shot of the evening... it was a wonderful day! maybe we can do this next year on 11.11.11?

playing in the highway

2010-10-05T00:22:00.002-05:00

IMG_2880, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

the weekend 40/64 opened, we all went out to play in the street. we grabbed our friends, our skateboards, our bikes, our inlines, our big wheels and flyer wagons. it was cold. oh, so very cold, but nothing. nothing could stop us from playing in the brand new highway!

on the run

2010-10-03T17:14:00.002-05:00

on the run, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

sometimes, you just gotta get up and get to the dance floor!

wooohooo

2010-10-03T17:10:00.001-05:00

wooohooo, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

expressions... it's all in the face!

at play...

2010-10-01T14:38:00.001-05:00

IMG_9518, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

pLAy is the theme for nablopomo this october!! i've decided to share with you my captures of people at play... both above and below the voting age.

i love october and i think this is an excellent way to share my enthusiasm for the next 744 hours.

let's start with bubbles, shall we?

happy fall people!!

city diner on grand

2010-09-22T13:22:00.000-05:00

i was going to take a street photography workshop, but was sadly unable. there was a preassignment, which i did, though i never turned in. these are a few of my shots from out front the new city diner location on grand. i just love this graphic.

dinner with friends

2010-09-12T09:38:00.000-05:00

several friends gathered for dinner at alison and justin's new place. alison made a family recipe BBQ, a steaming hot chicken pot pie, and three cheese, bacon bread. we all brought dishes to compliment and a feast was born. for desert, alison made a chocolate cake with a warm chocolate ganache. it was a lovely evening full of laughter and wonderful flavours.

Alison and Justin

2010-08-26T16:39:00.002-05:00

IMG_0207, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

meet Alison and Justin... they met on a kickball field, he proposed on a kickball field, and we felt that a kickball should be a part of the shoot.

we met on what may have been one of the hottest evenings of the year in a secret garden in tower grove park--at least it was a secret to me! they didn't care about the heat, and oh, what fun we had!

the birthday girl!

2010-07-26T22:51:00.002-05:00

the birthday girl!, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

juni turned 5 years old, and for her birthday, mom and dad threw a party with a circus theme.

there were clown races, a tin can toss and pie throwing... juni especially enjoyed the pie throwing. :)

mom did a phenom job of creating all the perfect touches while dad made a jovial and pie soaked clown.

it was super hot, but there were plenty of laughs and cooling off with the hose. but, the cupcakes in ice cream cones were a super sweet highlight!!

happy birthday, juni! (click here for more pics!)

hangin' out in metropolis

2010-07-26T16:45:00.002-05:00

IMG_7529 copy, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

back in june, the dude and i took a little trip to metropolis, illinois--the home of superman!

it was truly an experience as there a lot of super heroes wandering the streets. there was a man of steel on every corner--like santas at xmas!

not only were there costumes, but there tasty treats and a carnival atmosphere. we never did get a funnel cake, but we did suck down a good deal of fresh squeezed lemonade.

the real treat, however, were the fan films shown in the evening. i highly recommend the adventures of tiny superman. there was also an induction ceremony of the red mullet into the league of superheroes!

if you're ever able to attend... grab your tights and cape and follow the super hero trail to metropolis!

reaching out...

2010-07-16T13:16:00.001-05:00

DSC08784, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i took this at laumeier sculpture park in 2008. this young man and his friends were climbing all over a sculpture; i stood in front of them and shot a random series... this kid had so much character!

this is one of hundreds of captures that i never processed. if only i could edit as a full time job for maybe... three weeks? i could get caught up.

or maybe that's wishful thinking.

just visiting

2010-07-09T13:54:00.002-05:00

DSC08190 copy, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i recently completed a really fantastic lightroom class, and i cannot even begin to describe how excited and grateful i am.

if you are ever in need, i highly recommend Jeff Hirsch for his enthusiasm, expertise and vast amounts of patience. learning how to use lightroom has effectively shifted my perspective and work flow in a significant way--just as i had hoped.

after the class, i started migrating my old photos from iphoto to lightroom. i'm seeing more in my shots than i did initially.

i hope you enjoy the changes coming down the pike.

st mark class of 2010

2010-06-28T23:27:00.005-05:00

IMG_6630 copy, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

on a hot and stormy spring day the class of 2010 crossed over... over the rainbow.

as the class began their entrance for their eighth grade graduation service, the skies opened up and a massive storm erupted. the service was lovely and the rumble of thunder eventually faded.

as the graduates lined up to receive their diplomas the skies cleared and a beautiful double rainbow emerged from the rains.

it was a lovely evening, and i believe, a happy omen for a group of bright and delightful graduates!

happy good man day... take a nap...

2010-06-21T00:34:00.000-05:00

a friend of mine posted on facebook a comment about father's day. she suggested that we change the day to good man day, to celebrate the good men in our lives whether or not they have fathered children.

i gave her a hearty HERE! HERE! and reposted with abandon. i know many, many good men who deserve a good man day... my own boyfriend for one. so, i gave him an extra hug and made him waffles and sausage for breakfast. (i was going to make him breakfast anyway, but the extra hug was, well... extra. as was the undisturbed nap with his pup, chopper, pictured above.)

but, there are also a lot of fabulous dad's out there. to them, i also wish a good man day and a happy father's day. here is to your own undisturbed nap!

my second blog...

2010-06-04T18:28:00.003-05:00

time to start a new blog....

http://blulightspecial.blogspot.com/

dancing with angels

2010-06-04T18:18:00.002-05:00

this irina and she dances as though all the emotion in the world is moving through her. my friends, fellow dancers, and i sat and watched her during the final rehearsal before our show the end of may. we sat in silence. complete silence. there was no music, there was no special lighting, she wasn't even dressed for the show yet. it was her first solo; i hope the first of many... she is mesmerizing.

i didn't take this photo, but i wish i had. it was taken with my camera by a friend's father... on this night, i was dancing. :)

busy little me...

2010-05-28T14:55:00.000-05:00

here it is, my brief respite. a tiny little breather--memorial day with absolutely no plans. a first, i know.

may was a crazy month, but i made it through. every single night of the month was booked with rehearsals, dinner, classes... wow. it was so much fun, but it was insanely crazy and here at the end of it all, i'm sick to boot! normally, i book, book, book, book with abandon, but i sort of put my foot down on making plans in june.

lately, when the clock strikes five and i'm packing up to leave my sterile hell hole in the burbs at the job i hate so much... i want to go home to the dude. no matter where i am or what i'm doing, i'm looking forward to when i can see the dude.

so, i made a bold and conscious move to take it down a notch. not to drop out of site, i love my friends and the hobbies i have, but i think i want to spend more time making dinner, watching movies, working on dueling laptops, going out as a couple... you know, being a couple.

i've been mostly single for nearly three years and it has been a real exploration in me and all the great people i've become close with. i didn't really expect the adjustment to being a couple to be so stressful--i really got used to the single girl life! and, he's awesome--always encouraging me to do what i enjoy and to go hang out with my friends. i couldn't be luckier in that department.

but, sooner or later, if you're serious, you need to make a change. right now, i feel like i'm trying to run a marathon in two left shoes.

hopefully, i'll be back to the blogging too, as i try to focus on my photography and business more. it's going to be an interesting summer. i can't wait get it started... in 15 minutes!

let's start off with a deeeeeeeeep breath and a pedicure!

Danielle, Chelsea and Tim

2010-05-13T10:16:00.002-05:00

Danielle came to me with an idea for mother's day... the result was a laughter-filled afternoon of shooting in St. Charles with Danielle, her sister, Chelsea and brother, Tim. what great fun we had! here are a few shots... many thanks to Danielle for thinking of me for this project and bringing that picture frame!

the lovely and lighthearted Laura

2010-05-05T13:16:00.004-05:00

IMG_3958, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

Laura is a hoot! She has a delightful laugh and heart of gold. I started dancing with her more than a year ago, and i've enjoyed not only watching her develop further as a dancer, but goof off with her in class and out. i've wanted to shoot her for some time. next... i want to shoot the marvelous tats that she has--they are as lively and diverse as her personality!

dani

2010-05-04T13:44:00.002-05:00

IMG_3567, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

this is dani and she is a fantastic dancer! not only are her moves lovely, but she LOVES dancing! this girl knows how to have fun!

big new project...

2010-04-19T00:17:00.000-05:00

a very good friend of mine contacted me and asked me help him with the photo art for a project he is working on--his album.

Brian and i have been friends for a good many years, if a little out of touch for a few, thanks to the distractions and demands of life.

well, i'm just about as thrilled as can be to help him! here is a link to his blog on the project the wabash cafe--he even announced my joining his project. *blushes*

this is going to be a lot of fun!

big... cult of done

2010-04-15T12:49:00.001-05:00

Cult of Done, originally uploaded by spatulated.

this is big and brilliant. this is my roller coaster brain in text form.

a big bird...

2010-04-14T07:33:00.000-05:00

this is my cockatiel, Wagner (VAH-gner). he's about 13 years old, and though he's small, he's got a booming voice. he will say his name and "pretty bird". he is a very mellow and pretty quiet little guy; however, he loves spring and has been singing his own compositions in the mornings.

a fresh lens on a big date...

2010-04-13T07:47:00.000-05:00

i've a million pics of random things in my home... when i got my new 1.4 lens, i spun around and shot the calendar. my calendar is always colorful and BUSY! this shot is now a little sentimental for me--it's a big deal to me. :)

random notes...

2010-04-12T13:31:00.002-05:00

i've lots of ideas for blog posts; however, as is painfully obvious from my lack of recent posting, little time. i think life is a series of little epiphanies, so here are a few things rattling around in my head...

i'm constantly assessing my photographic skill level. i absolutely love the st louis camera club and find a lot of valuable information offered in the presentations, specifically on photojournalism nights. the critiques can be invaluable learning experiences if chosen wisely.

i often take the classes offered by the camera club; i really appreciate them and i have learned lesson upon lesson. but, as with anything, i think the time has come for me to move along. it isn't that i've reached a point where i'm not learning anything... oh, i am, believe me. it's just that i'm craving a more intense, specific, commercial and professional input. unfortunately, those classes are expensive--but i think i've found a place to try. i think it's time to do some serious networking and work, too.

in three days, three people who are good friends told me that it's time for me to stop taking classes and get experience. they are right. these are not the type of people who blow smoke--they have always been very frank and honest with me. with that in mind, i've decided to do just as they suggest. it's in little pieces and forming in a smokey cloud, but there is another change coming for me. i can't hide anymore and i need to get paying work. i'm starting to want more lenses, lighting equipment... and more than anything--i don't have time for my full-time job anymore.LOL

speaking of which, i've found some peace--sort of--with my full-time job. i need it right now, but i'm not stopping the search. i did some design work recently and it reminded me just how much i enjoy and miss it. i'm painfully underutilized in my position and i've grown tired of spending eight hours a day in a coma. my friends are also really sick of hearing about it, and i don't blame them a bit. there is a balance here, i know it. i have to find one until i can convince someone else that i'm just incredible and they NEED me. :)

completely unrelated... i used to wonder why my Lama married the woman that he did. i love her... don't get me wrong. she is a powerhouse of ambition, dedication and conviction. but, she was a little louder and frenetic than i would have expected a tibetan monk to chose for a wife. please understand that i mean no disrespect to them. this was just a question that i used to ponder.

when i spent a lot of time with them, i was married. my marriage was insanely mellow. we were both dedicated to tibetan buddhism and i was the more frenetic of the two of us--but still it was a pretty quiet existence. my Lama and his wife moved away and i got divorced--change is the only constant. the other night i was watching The Buddha on pbs and it occurred to me that the Lama's wife was a perfect compliment to him. i don't think it is necessarily a good thing for both partners to be "calm" or "frenetic". i think it's okay for one of each in a pair. better yet, i think it's okay to switch up that role periodically.

that brings me to a personal point. i met a man a few months ago who reminds me daily that every day is unique and exciting by living my favourite mantra... love is a verb. the dude, as i like to call him, is the reason that i've dropped off in my blogging, my facebook, my twitter... it's been a flourish of us and i am unabashedly flush with the excitement of it. a very close friend told me that she is just so happy that i've met someone who is on the same page as me and as excited about me as i am about him. that's a very good point; this is certainly something very different for me. but still we strive for balance... one day at a time... present in the moment of each of them... we are happy. i am happy.

it's big to me...

2010-04-02T01:35:00.004-05:00

april is big. woohoo!

big? geez. big how? big now? big size? big time?

a big deal to me. this month, i will post what is a big deal for me, to me, about me, around me. if it leaves an impression... i'll post it. :)

this picture is of a tissue paper flower. it's not the biggest of the bunch made that day, nor the prettiest. it was a big deal because i made it. i'm proud of this little flower. as a young girl, i can remember going to six flags and begging my parents for a tissue paper flower. they usually got me one after i'd been on all the rides--last stop of the day! i always wondered how they made them. it felt pretty spiffy to have made my very own.

there is one other reason why this flower is big. it was made during a creative activity at work. i work with some phenomenal people--creative, intelligent, hilarious, generous, open-minded, and accepting... just to name a few of their qualities. every now and again, we get together to make something. we call these activities well-fillers. we are an in-house advertising department, and well, being creative is what we do every day. sometimes, we need to create for the sake of creating so that we don't get all stale like krispy kreme that has been on the counter all day.

i've worked with some of these folks for as long as seven years. i've never been anywhere that long and some days it's all i can do to make myself go in. then i remember my friends. yes, they are coworkers, but bigger than that, they are my family.

what's big about that tissue paper flower? it's full of friendship, hope and eternal youth.

happy spring, my friends!

strange fops

2010-03-31T11:21:00.002-05:00

IMG_0828, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

from the barkus parade... my favourite fops! i do so enjoy this parade, and when the owners dress like their dogs... it's even more entertaining! i did feel a bit of pity for this pup as he didn't look too thrilled. :(

this is the last day of "strange" nablopomo.... thanks for hanging with me. it was a lot of fun to share my favourite strangers. i hope you enjoyed it! next month is "big". not really sure how i want to interpret that, but i'll think of something. of that, you can be certain!

museum strangers

2010-03-28T14:43:00.001-05:00

IMG_8275, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i do love to shoot people in museums. let's face it, they make wonderful subjects. :)

a stranger rebellion...

2010-03-22T19:34:00.000-05:00

i'll give it to him: that's one fine mohawk. :)

strange irish locks...

2010-03-22T01:12:00.000-05:00

st patty's day is not only about green beer, green eggs and corn beef and cabbage, but characters in green. what fun!

snow stranger...

2010-03-17T00:53:00.001-05:00

we never had a truly deep and serious snow this year, but we did have enough for sledding a few times. one afternoon, i strolled art hill and saw many rosy cheeked faces--like this little dude.

i'm starting to think apple treats their customers very poorly...

2010-03-17T00:39:00.001-05:00

please don't get me wrong; i love apple. but, i do believe in good customer service. i've had mixed results... my hope is that by spreading around this blog link, maybe the right people will see it. i'm an apple user and i want to stay that way.

I’m Starting to Think Apple Treats Their Customers Very Poorly

who is the misfit hue?

2010-03-15T13:06:00.001-05:00

i've been asked what i mean about "turning my back on the angel". i'll try to explain briefly.

the angel is a selfless, female phantom named by Virginia Woolf in a speech called "Professions for Women" that she gave to a branch of the National Society for Women's Service in 1931.

the abbreviated portion i'm posting here describes the battle Virginia Woolf waged with the angel--a battle i myself have fought and am still fighting. unlike Virginia, i have yet to kill the angel, but i'm far stronger and far closer today than i was a mere three years ago when i stopped half heartedly arguing with her and turned to blunt force.

i not only subscribe to the killing of the angel in the house, but that a woman needs a room of her own in which to work and an income of her own to make her self-reliant. i suppose my viewpoint was greatly influenced by Virginia Woolf, as well as Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins-Gilman. there are many, many, many more, but these three played a sizable role. have you ever read "The Story of an Hour"?

for myself, killing the angel has meant following the direction of my heart, my curiosities, my passions, and not allowing my life to be defined by what i "should" do or be. you may debate me on this in any way that you like, but i felt the pressure of the angel at many points in my life. i may have left the situations, the people, the circumstances behind, but the voice? the voice comes on the breeze in the dark hours of the night to challenge and question my choices. this may never end, but my conviction grows stronger with my successes.

the best way to explain the angel is to let Virginia do it. she was ever so eloquent...

"And while I was writing this review, I discovered that if I were going to review books I should need to do battle with a certain phantom. And the phantom was a woman, and when I came to know her better I called her after the heroine of a famous poem, The Angel in the House. It was she who used to come between me and my paper when I was writing reviews. It was she who bothered me and wasted my time and so tormented me that at last I killed her. You who come of a younger and happier generation may not have heard of her--you may not know what I mean by the Angel in the House. I will describe her as shortly as I can. She was intensely sympathetic. She was immensely charming. She was utterly unselfish. She excelled in the difficult arts of family life. She sacrificed herself daily. If there was chicken, she took the leg; if there was a draught she sat in it--in short she was so constituted that she never had a mind or a wish of her own, but preferred to sympathize always with the minds and wishes of others. Above all--I need not say it---she was pure. Her purity was supposed to be her chief beauty--her blushes, her great grace. In those days--the last of Queen Victoria--every house had its Angel. And when I came to write I encountered her with the very first words. The shadow of her wings fell on my page; I heard the rustling of her skirts in the room. Directly, that is to say, I took my pen in my hand to review that novel by a famous man, she slipped behind me and whispered: "My dear, you are a young woman. You are writing about a book that has been written by a man. Be sympathetic; be tender; flatter; deceive; use all the arts and wiles of our sex. Never let anybody guess that you have a mind of your own. Above all, be pure." And she made as if to guide my pen. I now record the one act for which I take some credit to myself, though the credit rightly belongs to some excellent ancestors of mine who left me a certain sum of money--shall we say five hundred pounds a year?--so that it was not necessary for me to depend solely on charm for my living. I turned upon her and caught her by the throat. I did my best to kill her. My excuse, if I were to be had up in a court of law, would be that I acted in self-defence. Had I not killed her she would have killed me. She would have plucked the heart out of my writing. For, as I found, directly I put pen to paper, you cannot review even a novel without having a mind of your own, without expressing what you think to be the truth about human relations, morality, sex. And all these questions, according to the Angel of the House, cannot be dealt with freely and openly by women; they must charm, they must conciliate, they must--to put it bluntly--tell lies if they are to succeed. Thus, whenever I felt the shadow of her wing or the radiance of her halo upon my page, I took up the inkpot and flung it at her. She died hard. Her fictitious nature was of great assistance to her. It is far harder to kill a phantom than a reality. She was always creeping back when I thought I had despatched her. Though I flatter myself that I killed her in the end, the struggle was severe; it took much time that had better have been spent upon learning Greek grammar; or in roaming the world in search of adventures. But it was a real experience; it was an experience that was bound to befall all women writers at that time. Killing the Angel in the House was part of the occupation of a woman writer."

road posing strangers

2010-03-15T11:02:00.001-05:00

IMG_2606, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

on december 6, 2009, the new stretch of highway 40 was open to the public. the day was filled with skate boarders, bikers, inline skaters, walkers, runners, strollers... even remote control cars. these two tykes took a moment to pose for mom...

my own rabbit hole...

2010-03-15T00:44:00.002-05:00

i just went to see alice in wonderland. i thought it was marvelous. the 3d was delightful... the way i think 3d should be used. there were delights aplenty for the eyes and characters i would love to have tea with.

now, as i reflect on the surreal nature of the story, which i shamefully have never read, i think i feel a little like alice.

i walked into my little apartment today and felt a bit like i had landed at the bottom of a rabbit hole that i don't entirely know. i have always been so snug, like a proverbial bug in a rug, in my cozy little home. but, the truth is that the place where you spend your time and where the people that you care about are at... that is home.

i'm just not entirely sure what to do with this revelation.

strangers practicing shakespeare in the park

2010-03-15T00:28:00.001-05:00

practicing shakespeare in the park, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

in a park in nova scotia on a lovely october day... they rehearsed in front of a fountain... a fountain that i hid behind to catch them in the act. :)

people of charlottetown, pei, strangers...

2010-03-12T11:12:00.001-06:00

people of charlottetown, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

jake, no stranger...

2010-03-11T18:41:00.002-06:00

jake, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

this is jake... he belongs to the ampersand in charlottetown, and his title is shop dog. his job? greeter, of course! :)

march 11, 2010...

2010-03-11T18:03:00.001-06:00

in my continued amusement over horoscopes...

February 19 - March 20

You're a born romantic by nature, Pisces, but today you're likely to think more in terms of physical passion than idealized romance. You're likely to be especially concerned with your appearance, and might want to go for a professional makeover or buy some new clothes. The color blue might seem especially appealing right now, but don't forget to add some red for passion! Phone your romantic interest and have fun tonight!

i read this at the end of the afternoon in which i'd bought a blue dress, painted my toes red and dyed my hair red with the peek-a-boo black. i seem to be on a roll. :)

love is half like a shark...

2010-03-10T11:00:00.001-06:00

sharks never stop moving. as far as i know, they have only one concern, the next tasty morsel.

theoretically, if it's good love, you only need one tasty morsel. however, one thing is certain: you gotta keep swimming.

i tried gracefully sauntering through the wading pool and even testing the waters with my delicately pedicured toe nails, all in an effort to pace myself. if i'm going to catch myself a bull shark in shallow water, i need to behave. but, do i want to live in the wading pool?

let me be blunt: fuck that. i want a great white.

i want the wide open water of danger and possibility. i want deep water that i can plunge into head first and come up sputtering and grasping for an edge that isn't there. i'm a woman who knows the pay off of a decent sized risk, who is done denying and defying her nature.

life is a verb. love is a verb. when i find the right shark, i'll tap his fin and swim with him. i'm never going to "catch" him. besides, i'm an equal force to be reckoned with who doesn't want to be "caught" either.

just keep swimming and head for the uncharted territory.

horse wrangling stranger

2010-03-10T10:36:00.001-06:00

IMG_7049, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i was on highway one, headed for the confederate bridge to leave PEI when out of the corner of my eye, i caught galloping horses. as is my habit with my camera in reach, i hit the brakes, whipped a u-turn and drove back to investigate.

click the pic for a series on the horses. :)

statue strangers

2010-03-09T14:34:00.001-06:00

IMG_8325, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

at the chicago art institute, i found the people as fascinating as the fabulous art.

sly elf stranger...

2010-03-08T11:37:00.001-06:00

IMG_1803, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i shot breakfast with santa for a friend, and of course, the bounty of giggling kid shots was over the top. they were a great group.

a second before i shot this, the face painter was blocking us. this little girl was struggling to watch me and still not move a muscle as her cheek was painted. just as the painter moved, i shot this and a second later my little friend here was giggling and blushing.

love american style, stranger...

2010-03-07T23:29:00.002-06:00

love american style, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

a couple that i spotted on the pier in portland, maine.

in this particular moment there is so much joy; it makes me happy that they are happy. :)

zenfest stranger...

2010-03-06T15:26:00.001-06:00

IMG_8481, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

one hour into learning to spin, the girl teaching me asked, "so, you wanna do it tonight?"

"ugh, did you just see me hit myself in the head with my balls?" (tennis balls in tube socks, don't be crass now.)

i thought... sure, let's light the fuckers and see how i do.

i smiled sweetly and said, "thanks, but no thanks."

i don't remember seeing this guy all day.

stranger, thrill ride?

2010-03-05T16:06:00.001-06:00

thrill ride, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

what do you think he was thinking? goodness, he looks so bored to me. :)

we all suffer...

2010-03-04T11:53:00.000-06:00

i recently had a conversation that shut me down. that's not an easy task, i assure you.

it got me thinking about the baggage we carry and the four noble truths. in brief, these are the four noble truths: life means suffering; the origin of suffering is attachment; cessation of suffering is attainable; and there is a path to the cessation of suffering.

what i take away? we all suffer. in being mindful of that, i try to balance the wisdom of that knowledge and cultivate compassion for all sentient beings. so, if a driver cuts me off on the highway, instead of flipping the bird, i try instead to consider that maybe that person is having a rough morning, also.

this is NOT easy.

there is a lot of noise in my head, and i'm trying to keep what is going on in my life straight. people rarely do what i want them to, and i don't understand why i keep getting hurt.

nonetheless, we all suffer. you suffer. i suffer. if i'm told that i have no idea how badly someone has been hurt, they're right. but, i know that they have; i will listen and i will be there.

back to this conversation. i wanted to shout out all the horrible things that have happened to me and all the awful things that have been said to me. i wanted to scream, what about me?

what about me? yes, i've been wronged and i have wronged. but, i will not give up. there is love in my life and there is joy. i refuse to be held back from the possibilities by the pain of my past. there is more to me than that. there are great joys and accomplishments in my past, as well. more importantly, there is more joy and love in my heart for today and tomorrow.

so yes, we all suffer and when you are suffering, i will be here.

waiting for a stranger

2010-03-04T11:20:00.002-06:00

the wait, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

shot this late night at the festival as the crowds were dwindling.

did you ever see the movie, Carny? i watched that movie soooo many times. it had Jodie Foster and Gary Busey. i had the biggest crush on his character.

Sumaiya at Naughti Gras 2010

2010-03-03T13:12:00.004-06:00

IMG_9841 copy, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

it is always a treat to see Sumaiya dance...

peek-a-boo, stranger...

2010-03-03T10:36:00.002-06:00

Peek-a-boo, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

hello young man!

i took this at elephant rock. i had gone hiking and gotten myself lost earlier in the day at a different park. once i found my way back to the trail, i promptly went to elephant rock and tried to get myself lost again. :)

instead, i stumbled upon these ruins of an old train station down at the edge of a trail. a lovely family was just ahead of me poking around the nooks and crannies. the little boy was a delight who played a bit of hide and seek with me.

it was an interesting day... for me, this shot represents a little of what i found that day when i went off the trail. i reclaimed a bit of my childlike adventurer...

waiting

2010-03-02T14:07:00.004-06:00

DSC04271, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

the march nablopomo is strange... or stranger.

if there is one thing i have a plethora of it is shots of strangers.

i know that i've been slacking on my blogging and haven't successfully done a nablopomo since november. that does not stop me from forming a resolution every month--this is why i eschew nye resolutions. there aren't enough hours in my day regardless of how much enthusiasm i have!

here is day one, a day late... i took this at naughti gras 2009 just before the show. the crowd had just begun to gather when i saw her sitting there waiting...

eggs benedict...

2010-02-23T14:46:00.003-06:00

i'm a survivor of runaway bride syndrome. well, the julia roberts version anyway.

it's really easy to meet someone and become very interested in their tastes, their preferences, their experiences. it's easy for some of us girls to lose our identity.

i've met such interesting people in my lifetime. i've absorbed interesting music, art, design, books, hobbies, sports, religion, politics, philosophy. fascinating people have helped me build my unique and quirky ME-ness.

i believe that it's a good thing to make friends with different types of people. my goal is to become a kaleidoscope of thoughts and tastes: i like variety. i want to select from everyone those things which intrigue me--that i want to explore.

however, i've been known to lose my own identity in relationships. i get so engrossed in the exploring, and i'm so easy going about it, that suddenly i realize one day that i'm nowhere to be found.

a couple of years ago, i spent a good deal of time exploring to see what my own flavours and tastes are and answering the question: what do i bring to the table? i like to compare the process to the scene in runaway bride, during the montage, when juila roberts' character is tasting eggs prepared in different ways because she's always eaten her eggs the way her current fiance does. she has no idea what she likes.

exploring and collecting are important. self discovery is important. hanging on to your identity in any relationship is equally important, at least in my book.

today, i was sifting through music thinking about what sort of music a new friend of mine would like when a really loud alarm went off in my head. this is how it starts and a way of thinking that becomes a habit. instead of choosing what i thought he might like, i stopped to consider what i, the girl who came before, what did i want to hear?

i must remain mindful that i have something to offer, and by the way, i'll have the eggs benedict.

Barkus Dog Parade 2010...

2010-02-22T10:10:00.002-06:00

IMG_1151, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

when signs of mardi gras start to appear, i start searching out the details for the barkus dog parade... a st. louis puppy mardi gras treat!

the streets fill with pups donned in radical to simple costuming. often, their owners are wearing matching finery. it really is a fantastic spectacle to behold.

the children are giddy and their excitement levels escalate to rolling giggles when, at every turn, they bounce into a costumed pup.

this is one of my favourite st. louis events!

the mirrors

2010-02-19T23:25:00.002-06:00

IMG_1798, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

when Missy and i took our little trip to Chi-town in september, we stopped at ikea. holy moly! that place is amazing!

i picked up these spiffy little mirrors to paint and hang in my apartment. of course, i just got to painting them. i thoroughly enjoyed slopping around in the paint, and naturally, i had to document the process with big daddy and the new lens, sally. :)

i hung these beotches tonight, and they are totally macgyvered. but, i dig em!

words fly willy nilly...

2010-02-18T16:11:00.005-06:00

FYI: Osama Bin Laden did not influence me to become a belly dancer.

i started belly dancing in 2002 because i had always wanted to try it and i like to dance.

this is the biggest load of bull that reeks from here to high heaven.

normally, i pay no mind to mr. o'reilly and his rantings. however, this entire piece is incendiary and really burns my shimmy.

this is the link. satisfy your curiosity.

might we all just be a little more careful about the statements that we make, please?

i'm done. thank you very much.

going all in...

2010-02-18T00:47:00.003-06:00

i've been singing the praises of risk and going for broke for three or four years. i still am.

but, i felt something from my old life today. something i recognized and quickly invited to leave.

hesitation. fear. caution.

any way you label it, i don't like it. but, i understand why it showed up. i've had a difficult few years in the personal relationship arena. one too many skid marks on the soul has left me a bit skittish.

experience is invaluable and something i crave and encourage, but it also steals naivety and slips in "what ifs" when they're not welcome. i think i'm doing exceptionally well, considering my track record.

i've got a lot of faith in myself, but in someone else? that may be a little more difficult to come by than it used to be.

at least i keep showing up to play and take the risk.

i still believe in going all in.

don't let your luggage define your travels...

2010-02-16T01:17:00.005-06:00

my passionate affair with canada continues and only grows deeper.

tonight i was able to see the opening ceremonies of the vancouver winter olympics... i was so grateful that my friend taped it! i could have watched every second of it... from the entrance of the native tribes to the great one lighting the torch outside.

luckily my tour guide edited for me, making sure that i saw the best parts. i laughed, i cried and i felt a swelling pride for canada. it was a spectacular display, truly.

then we watched figure skating... wow. what a night. really. stellar!

i know that everywhere, everyone has posted their highlights... i'd post so many, you could probably just rewatch the whole display. so, here are a couple of my favourite parts of the opening ceremonies and a little video on vancouver i highly recommend...

and duuuude, i really want a pair of those maple leaf mittens!

Shane Koyczan, We Are More

k.d. lang... hallelujah

bending light...

2010-02-09T01:09:00.002-06:00

bending light, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i took the day off in anticipation of an exhausting weekend and ended up going with a friend to the science center to shoot for an article she is writing.

i had a blast! and, they have a truly awesome mayan coffee. :) click the pick for more.

btw, dinosaurs look funny with feathers.

building on the riverfront...

2010-02-03T20:41:00.003-06:00

DSC05410, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i don't know what this building used to be or what it is now, but it's one of my favourite structures on the riverfront.

a building with words on it? oh heck YEAH! and, it's got a TON of interesting little angles and molding... even each individual brick is unique and freaking spectacular.

i would love to get inside.

(click to see more)

horoscope hilarity...

2010-01-26T12:11:00.006-06:00

periodically, i burst into honest to goodness ROTFLMAO guffawing. this is one of those days.... oh mr. horoscope, today you're getting lots of brownie points! just call me the pitbull of love and hand me the white pages!

"Oh, my. You're definitely in the mood for romance -- but not just romance. It's time for passion of the most intense kind! And this is definitely a long-term proposition. You want depth, intensity and a real soul-sharing experience, and you won't stop until you have it. The good news is that if anyone is capable of having it, it's you. Get in touch with the person who can provide you with it."

the wedding under a double rainbow...

2010-01-24T14:28:00.004-06:00

IMG_0054.jpg-0451, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

meet Jen and Erich who were married september 26, 2009, always laughing, and game for any shooting fun that Liz wanted to try. (click the photo for more)

i was lucky enough to shoot as second for Liz Reiff Sloan of L Photographie. Liz is insanely creative and bold... we put these two on a metro train! what an inspiring photographer and patient teacher!!!

the weather was a constant threat and rained a little on our parade, but as the couple emerged from City Hall... there was a double rainbow. W.O.W!

(the green bay packers were staying at the westin that weekend and i got to ride the elevator with a lovely selection of the defensive line. what a day!)

Hardkour: Take one (Light Graffiti)

2010-01-21T17:41:00.001-06:00

Hardkour: Take one (Light Graffiti), originally uploaded by Eibx.

not mine. wish it was. LOVE it.

Shane and Veronica....

2010-01-19T01:14:00.005-06:00

IMG_0054.jpg-7962, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

Shane and Veronica were married on September 12, 2009.

a friend from a photog class knew i was trying to get experience shooting weddings and asked if i'd like to tag along. OF COURSE!

i was the third shooter, and this turned out to be the second wedding for all three of us--a major learning for me.

i got a pretty good sense of the craziness of a big wedding party... 20 peeps! YIKES!

what i learned that day? the photographer really is one of the most important people in the wedding... listen to them! and as a photographer, i really need to know what the hell i want you to do, and how to get what i want.

only practice will perfect that.

thanks Kristi for inviting me along!!

little dude

2010-01-18T16:52:00.005-06:00

little dude, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

it has been one of those days.

oh, yes it has.

i call these bad bio-rhythm days. the sort of day when everything is hard, from sending an email to writing a blog to taking a picture to getting dressed to getting food to your mouth to whacking yourself with the toothbrush thus smearing your face with minty fresh paste.

i woke up early to go see eagles and see what sort of pics i could get with big daddy... it'd have been his first run with the baldies. toooooooo much fog. if there was this much fog in the city, i didn't really have much hope for the outer areas. back to sleep.

wake up and clean the apartment. trip over the vacuum which has stopped working for all intents and purposes. obviously in need of coffee, i then consumed too much. so to counter caffeine jitters, i ate an omelet and then at 3 o'clock half a pbj, and just now, a handful of pizza rolls. ew.

save the day... take out big daddy and shoot some things in forest park. start with steinberg rink. screw up someones phone when they ask you to take a pic with their phone. back away.... back away... shootshootshoot.... nearly run to the car. this is a crappy day to be shooting forest park, give up and head back home.

i've been on edge this whole day, so of course, mom calls. GAH!

my bangs are too long and getting that funky flip, so i randomly attacked them. and now, just as the sun sets the clouds break and clear light bounce off the computer at me... too late.

weird edginess, i've been leery of people and nervous about going places. i'm watching my email like a hawk, but what for???? this day is jacked. i feel like the vinyl is skipping. good gawd, move the needle...

i need something stellar. something rockin and awesome. something to clear away the paranoid cobwebs.

please.

thank heaven for this little dude... the golden moment in my day. :)

the gateway arch

2010-01-17T21:37:00.003-06:00

IMG_7684, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

so a friend asked me for a pic of the arch.

good grief, i didn't really have one. how is that possible?

i went downtown around sunset and shot the arch. any st louisan or photog in the lou worth their salt must have shots of the arch. (you know the drill. click the pic.)

i'm sure that i didn't find any new angles that haven't been shot a million times, but now they've been shot by me. :)

i really like getting up close and personal with things. i like the way some of these shots don't really show the size of the monument.

oh it's bloody huge.

i'm hopeful about Google...

2010-01-14T20:01:00.005-06:00

below is a link to the Official Blog of Google. i highly recommend reading it.

i have very strong feelings towards China, and it is sometimes a struggle for me maintain compassion and cultivate wisdom. it is sometimes difficult not become outraged and preach to anyone who will listen.

i wish that screaming, stomping and tears made a difference, but there are more effective routes. :)

i've been watching the spidery cracks of change spread ever so slowly.

when Google first went into China, i understood the argument and took this as just one more step in the direction of future change. with the developments of this week, i've been cautiously thrilled.

though i do not wish ill to anyone, especially not the Chinese employees of Google, i am rather excited to see a company of this caliber stand up to the Chinese government. this could set a precedent.

...and a precedent opens the door even wider to change.

i'll be watching what happens very closely, and i'll remain ever hopeful that one day His Holiness can return to his home in Lhasa.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-approach-to-china.html

don't pick your nose in public...

2010-01-11T20:45:00.003-06:00

i will take your picture.

what i'm not going to say...

2010-01-10T14:24:00.006-06:00

"boys are simple, girls are complex."

a guy told me that and i didn't think that was a very nice thing to say about guys. so, in my infinite wisdom, i disagreed.

but, the joke is on me. oddly enough, while watching a group of twenty something guys play on stage last night, it occurred to me that the guy who told me that was right. i really don't think the majority of men really want or need explanation. "your lips move, but i don't hear what you say."

i can't believe it took all these years to realize that all of my probing questions to understand and struggles to be clear and communicate, which ended up in paragraphs of emotional explanations, have been a huge waste.

i will not tell you, dear reader, how often i have second guessed my communication skills. you've read it here a dozen times.

"dating is hard" because we make it that way. the more i try to live in the moment, minimize expectations, and be honest about what i want, the deeper into the quicksand i am yanked.

i think the best that i can do is attempt to maintain a sense of humour in the face of the relentless and emotional lightening bolts. cry, laugh, cry, laugh. there is comfort in routine.

i am left with only one thought. i really need to get a cat.

beledi best...

2010-01-05T23:28:00.003-06:00

i'm exhausted, so this is going to be brief...

tonight we started a new choreo... a beledi piece. i prefer this of all the styles i've danced. it's internal. it's squishy and it is insanely sexy. most of the time, i wouldn't use the word sexy to describe belly dance because it just drags us old americans down a road that i don't want to go.

however, beledi is sexy and this is what i do best. i've never been a lofty, ballet-esque dancer who does raqs sharqi well. this is much more suited to my body and my demeanor.

i'm very excited and pleased with the way the first evening went. more to come...