Check In

Boats in SF with the Golden Gate in the background.

Summer has officially started here in California.  How do I know?  Well, first of all the temperature has finally reached what we Californians like to call "normal" but everyone else might refer to as "nice" or "warm".  The sun is shining, my tan is actually a thing (as opposed to something imaginary), things are lovely.  I also know it is Summer because last night I packed up all of my circus supplies so I can spend my morning teaching tiny people how to juggle and spin things.  I love this time of year.  Yes, I am absolutely a lover of fall and winter (I love sweaters), but there is something magical about the summertime.  It makes me want to go outside and hang out with nature.  I love leaving the doors and windows open in the afternoon and just listening.  The creek that runs behind my house is teaming with frogs, and they croak their little songs day in and day out, so much that I sometimes forget, as I sit in my living room with the sliding glass door open, that I am living in the suburbs.  That 3 blocks away is a CVS and a Safeway and a spa for my pet.  And this thought brings me peace.

Summer is going to be busy and exciting for me.  Lots of projects:

~I'm doing a bunch of sporadic circus teaching.  AWESOME.

~I am working on a great article for The Violet that I'm stoked on.

AND

~I'm so happy to announce that I'm working on another magazine project with two rediscovered friends called Atom Magazine.
Truthfully, guys, this thing is going to be UNREAL.  The content we have is just amazing and I'm so excited to share more with everyone.  There is a big focus on art in many forms--short fiction, essays, photography, pen and ink drawings--and all of the artists that we are working with are absolutely fantastic.  Seriously, I'm so incredibly excited about this mag,  I can't even tell you.  Check it out here:  www.theatom.posterous.com.  And keep checking back for more information about our first issue, out at the end of July (it'll even be available in print!).

Hi Friends, 

I'm checking in on The Violet blog today.  Check it out here.

Ponder

listen

I've been thinking lately about those choices that lie ahead of us.  There are an infinite number of them just floating out there.  And at each moment, you can grab at any of them and, depending on which one your fingers hold onto tightest, the scenery changes.  Not to get all chaos theory up in here (mostly because I don't really understand it), but the ripples from these tiny changes extend in every direction and effect everything in front of you.  Isn't that just amazing?  I find this oddly comforting.

Whenever I am running late (which, to be honest, is often) and I find myself stressing over why the light won't change or why the person in front of me is driving like a 98,243,489 year old man, I usually stop and think to myself, "Ok, obviously I'm running late for a reason.  Is it to teach me the 'leave-earlier, why-don't-you?' lesson?  Or am I supposed to notice something here? I wonder who I am supposed to meet or what I am avoiding by sitting here."  (yes, it is a little bit self indulgent of me to say this.  Sometimes I'm late just because I'm easily distracted, but there are definitely other times when the universe puts things in my way.  I'm talking about those times). To me, this thought process takes a leap of faith.  It involves trusting that there is something out there much much smarter than me that is watching out for me as I move through the world.  I take comfort in this.  It is sort of beautiful, right?  I try not to imagine this being as a maniacal puppet master, pulling unseen strings (though it is a sort of unavoidable image, right?).  Rather, I like to think of it as warm, safe light ahead of me, illuminating the safest path.

So, what's ahead of me right now?  Well....the unknown.  Which is completely terrifying.  I realized yesterday that in a little more than 6 weeks, I'm officially done with my current job.  Like totally done.  Forever.  And as of right now, I have no plan.  Sure, I have things in the works (what up, The Violet?), but nothing concrete.  Part of me is completely terrified--what kind of crazy person wants to be unemployed with no plan?  And at the same time, another part of me is simultaneously calm and exhilerated because I trust that warm, guiding light completely.  As of right now it feels like that light is pointing me back towards my beloved NYC, which I literally couldn't be happier about, but that's not a definite. 

So stay tuned, folks.  Because times, they are a'changing.

The Violet Is Here!

I don't know that Camilla and I could be more excited about The Violet's first issue being published.  Check it out here.

I'm Not Dead, I Promise

I've been making sweet treats. Note the classy dinosaur sprinkles.

I know I've gone into blog hibernation (blibernation? Hiberblogtion?) this past two weeks, but don't think that that means I wasn't thinking about all of you.  Quite the contrary, I thought of you all often and would then plan to write and then sit down at my computer and inevitably either fall asleep or get caught up watching Downton Abbey (if you haven't watched it yet, go to Netflix Instant immediately and watch it.  You won't be sorry).  I promise to do better in the future.


Now, let's get right down to it, can you believe it is March already? March is going to kick my ass, I can tell you this right now.  First off, I begin a 2 week stretch of teaching tiny kinder people tomorrow (we will be learning about mountains together, it should be a hoot).  Next, I head out to Chicago for a week of galavanting and meeting/schoomzing/ass-kissing with potential employers (My darling Marissa Schwartz will be there as well, so it all comes out in a wash, really).  Then The North Pool, my favorite show of the season, opens and I go on a whirlwind tour of the valley to prep students to see this show.  And let us not forget The Violet, who's first issue comes out around the end of the month (did you notice the fancy new button?  Thanks, Camilla, for making it look so lovely).  All in all it should be a great, busy month that I am looking forward to.  What is the saying?  I've posted about it before?  "March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb."  It has never been proven to me to be true, but perhaps things will be different this time.  I have high hopes.  In fact, I spent tonight making yummy, teensy cupcakes (see above).  Any month that starts with baking can't be that bad.


What does March hold for you?

This Weekend I Met a 15 Year Old Who Is More Talented Than I Will Ever Be

Truly, I did.  You guys, I can't wait for you to see the photographic magic that happened this weekend.  It'll be available for your viewing pleasure in the first issue of The Violet, my newest project.  Have I told you about The Violet yet?  No?  Well, The Violet is a project that I've been working on with my old friend Camilla for the past few months.  It is a magazine for 20-somethings trying to make their way in the world on a budget.  I am so unbelievably excited that it is finally all coming together, our first issue will be out at the end of March.  Keep your eyes peeled for updates on our website, and check out The Violet Blog for updates until the first issue is released.


In the mean time, here is a sneak peak of our photo shoot for the first issue.  With help from Kenza, my new friend Jenny, Camilla, and an uber-talented Claire, it was a magical day.  Here are some that I snapped today (though I promise you, Claire's are better.  Check the first issue of the magazine for proof).  It is days like today that make me love living in Northern California.

Kenza among the trees

Camilla, being silly with props 

Kenza, in thought

The lovely and stylin' Jenny

Claire, who is so talented it is sort of gross

The Golden Gate