I am a Children’s Librarian living in the Portland, Oregon area. When I am not Children’s Librianing I like to play with cameras and film. I also like playing the ukulele, knitting, sketching, and hiking.
Over the weekend I was doing some spring cleaning. It was with great delight that I found this. If you didn’t click that link, what you missed was a photo of a pinhole camera kit. My husband bought it for me 3 or 4 years ago. I remember looking through the instructions at the time and being completely overwhelmed by them and so it was shoved into the closet. But I found it! And I am no longer as overwhelmed.
I assembled the camera yesterday and took it out for a spin. I decided I wanted to take it up into the forest, to the Salmon River to get some blurry water shots. However, it was raining very hard. Heavy rain and cardboard are not a good combo. Also, I wound the film the wrong way the entire time I thought I was shooting. So, essentially, I wasn’t winding the film at all. I was just exposing over and over on the same spot. I got home and realized this after I opened the camera, exposing everything. I was frustrated and tossed the whole roll out of frustration (I now realize I probably could have salvaged it somewhat. oh well.)
Attempt number 2 took me to my apartment’s parking lot and then down to the park where I witnessed our chief of police on a foot chase with a local criminal. She chased him into the woods and then caught and arrested him and I continued on my merry way. I wasn’t afraid because I had my weapon of choice: my tripod.
I am looking forward to playing with this more! I can see the creative potential here. I am signed up for a pinhole photography class in June at Newspace. The teacher does some amazing work and I am looking forward to learning from him.
I mentioned that a couple of photos from my film swap with Mr. AwareoftheVoid really stand out for me. I wanted them to have their own blog post. This is one of them. I feel like it doesn’t need a blathery exposition because it kind of speaks for itself. And maybe I should just shut up and let the photo do the talking. However…
A little while before Brendan sent these to me I got the call from my mom telling me that my uncle was actively dying. When she told me it felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I honestly didn’t think he would die so quickly. He only found out two weeks ago that he had lung cancer. I honestly thought that I would have time to go back home to say goodbye. But, apparently, life doesn’t work that way. I was in shock. As I was looking at the photos, in shock, this particular one jumped out for obvious reasons. I love how the sunrise is bleeding through the gate, like it refuses to be held back. What a beautiful metaphor.
The lock part of the photo was taken on the Steel Bridge in Portland, Oregon and the Sunrise was taken by Brendan in Dublin.
I haven’t done a Friday Random 10 in a very long time. I found this old post and thought for National Poetry Month, it would be interesting to combine the two ideas.
So here is the idea: Put your music player on random. Blog the first 10 songs that come up.
Then make a kind of “found poem” out of the first lines of each of the songs.
I invite you to participate! If you do a post on your blog please link to this one or post a comment so I can read what you’ve come up with.
It will be fun to see what comes up! Ready? Let’s do this!
1. Happy Holidays You Bastard – Blink 182
This song is pretty much how I feel every time the holidays roll around.
2. Settle Down – Kimbra
Love this song. Haven’t heard it in awhile The video is pretty great too.
3. Why am I the one? – Fun
This was on this years’s Fluxblog Survey. I have to admit to myself that I like these guys. I haven’t heard this song much but it’s nice.
4. Till I Gain Control Again – Willie Nelson
God, I heart Willie Nelson so much. I could write a whole blog post on how much I love him (and maybe I should). So I’ll just leave it at that. The version I am listening to is from the album, “Willie and Family Live.” Such a good album. If you ever get a chance to listen to it, do it.
5. Rich Girl – Gwen Stefani & Eve
God. I haven’t heard this in years and years. Indeed, if I had all the money in the world I would clean out Vivienne West.
6. Lover Of The Bayou – Mudcrutch
Tom Petty in any form is a good thing. Add a zombie chase to your lyrics and you got my ear.
7. Tiny Little Bows – Carly Rae Jepsen
Another from this year’s Fluxblog Survey. If it wasn’t from this free source of music it would be filed under “embarrassing music on Moni’s iphone.” But it’s not. ‘Cause it was a free download. Ahem.
8. She Sells Sanctuary – The Cult
This was my favorite song when I was in my twenties. I still love it and I love The Cult. I haven’t heard this in awhile. It reminds me of Gary, my boyfriend that died in a car accident. I should write more blog posts about him. I’ve been thinking about him a lot lately.
9. The Sundays – Another Flavor
This is another band that I used to love a lot when I was in my twenties. I listened to them all of the time. I remember one time I met a guy at a club in San Francisco, I was in my early twenties and was with my crew of Scandinavian nanny friends. I was talking to a guy who I kind of thought was cute. He mentioned that he also liked The Sundays and I thought that was cool. But then he went on and on about how much he loved them. I mean, he was seriously obsessed. I remember sitting there listening to him talk about them obsessively and feeling this weird feeling of doom rise up inside of me.
10. Someday You Will Be Loved – Death Cab For Cutie
This song makes me very sad. As many of their songs do.
OK. Now the poem.
It’s Christmas Eve and I’ve only wrapped two fuckin’ presents I wanna settle down I got enough on my mind that when she pulls me by the hair she doesn’t have much to hold onto. Just like the sun over the mountain top you know I’ll always come again. If I was a rich girl Catfish pie in a gris-gris bag, I’m a lover of the Bayou. Cupid draw back your bow Oh the Texas Sun makes my back burn The timing’s all wrong I once knew a girl in the in the years of my youth with eyes like the summer all beauty and truth.
Hm. Interesting. I think I need to let it sink in.
My International Filmswap with Brendan from Aware of the Void continues! He shot the last of the three rolls on Sunday – and even developed them himself so we could have results that day. I am so pleased with how they turned out! Here are some of my favorites. There are a couple that really stand out and I will post them in another blog post so they can stand on their own. They are included here as well.
Blatherskite 