Today I was born!! And I am now the big 3-oh. Ooo. A fun thing I did when I was 29. I shaved my head. It was hot, summer and I needed a major change! Major. I loved it. I have a great spiral on the right side of my head. Which explains why I could never get the perfect smooth ponytail. (Like all the cool girls had.) How I always wanted that smooth ponytail. No matter what I tried, it would be messy and SO not smooth. Otherwise I have a pretty nice shaped head. AND the awesome spiral. I realized after I shaved my head that I am a twirler. I twirl my hair, ALL the time. So instead of twirling I would run my finger over the spiral. (It wasn't quite the same, but I had that fuzzy soft hair thing for awhile.) Birthday plans! I am going to my favorite diner for breakfast. Then the Boy and I are going shopping. I want to buy things just for myself. Things that I don't need, only things that I want. It is going to be so much fun! I can't wait. I also want to go to the Mocca Art Fest. Then we are going to this super great restaurant in our neighborhood called Lil Bistro 33. Our first night in the new apartment we went here for dinner. The food is fantastic. The space is tiny and amazing. I love it and the Boy will use any excuse to go. My birthday is a good excuse. Happy Birthday to Me!

Mad Hot Ballroom is the most amazing movie I have seen in awhile. I think it is only in limited release right now. But it is wonderful. You cannot help but fall in love with these kids. They are amazing. There is no manipulation, but there is truth. The truth of their desires for the future. A future that is more thought out then I ever had at 10 years old! The things that they say are crazy and funny and sweet and important. Very important. I have no ideas how to ask theaters to show the movie but if it is not near you, do what you can. Even beg and plead. Here are two trailers from apple. One. Two. There are also trailers and clips on the main site! If you get a chance to see it you will not be disappointed. Happy Birthday Johanna!

Robot number two is done and finished. His name is Georgi and he tinkers. With everything. He likes to be able to fix things and know how they work. But sometimes when he puts it all back together he is left with pieces. So he collects them and makes beautiful wind chimes.

You must check out Catia Chien. Her work is amazing and soft with great lines and emotion. I found her from the equally amazing Jamie Zollars. Jamie is also participating in the softie event at Schmancy in August. If you are going to be in Seattle in August there will be great softies from all over the world.

Here is a full body shot of Georgi. He is about half the size of Felix.

I haven’t thought like a photographer for a while. Years in fact. I mean I’ll have moments when I wish I had my camera with me, but those are the smack you in the face kind of moments. The kind where everyone wishes they had a camera with them. But ever since I got my Holga things have changed. I am looking. I am seeing the little moments. I don’t know if I am capturing them, but I am seeing them. And since I have the Holga with me I live those moments. I have a pretty shoddy memory, but if I see something visually whether it is a picture or a place. I can be back in that moment. I can remember the essence of the event.
But thinking with a photograph in mind is pleasurable. I look at all the small moments and relish them. Also knowing that there are problems with the Holga. I don’t make any value judgments. Like today I was riding in the train and the conductor was in my car. He had the door open and we were outside and he was watching everything pass outside his window. It was really beautiful so I thought I should remember to take a picture of that. Then I remembered I had my camera, but I just needed to load the film. I did it, missed my stop, but then walked home and took the rest of the film. And old lady saying hello the flower store cat. I tree filled with birdhouses. A cool alleyway. But I never would have seen those things if I didn’t stop to look.

Here is my first try with the Holga. I was just pushing down the leaver as I walked to the train, but things didn’t turn out half bad for going at it blindly. I just got a contact sheet printed because I really am surprised that anything turned out. I wasn’t sure how far to forward the film so I over compensated. A couple of shots were way to dark and others were way to light. I love the vignette.