a tribute.

Twenty years ago, the world lost Jim Henson. I don't know what I would do or who I would be if I didn't grow up loving his creations. Here are ten memories from my formative years and beyond:

1. Learning how to spell "Elmo" and writing it on a paper plate.
2. My beloved Kermit doll that I played with throughout my childhood, squeezing his mouth together and apart to make him "speak". I did this so many times the fabric at the corners of his mouth wore out, I have since acquired another one.
3. All of the classic songs I first heard as parodies on Sesame Street... from The Beatles' "Letter B" to Madonna's "Cereal Girl"
4. The Tale of the Bunny Picnic. I think my brother and I watched it so many times that the VHS broke. "Well, I think we'll just call you Skee-bop-de-diddly dog bop" "That's MISTER Skee-bop-de-diddly-dog-bop to youuuuu!"
5. My brother being yelled at during dinner for the bad manners he had picked up from watching Cookie Monster eat.
6. Seeing the Muppet Christmas Carol when it first came out in the theaters, and again on the big screen a few years ago at the Dryden.
7. Watching my brother perform "Rainbow Connection" at the church talent show.
8. In first grade, my classmate telling saying, "Did you know that Mary Martin died? The lady who played Peter Pan," and my retort being "Yeah, did you know that Jim Henson died?"
9. Searching through the (paper) television guides when they stopped airing Muppet Babies on our non-cable channels as a child, in hopes that I would find it.
10. An ex-boyfriend comparing me to Miss Piggy when I got pissed off at him. (this pissed me off too)

the go-getter

I'm still alive! Since hell week ended, I've been busy with some personal work, and some great great GREAT opportunities have surfaced in the meantime.

That's a bust! Years ago, in undergrad, I did a project on one of many organizations that take plaster casts of women, and have artists decorate the busts, which are then auctioned off to with proceeds going towards breast cancer. The Roc City Roller Derby is participating, and I was EXTREMELY honored that I was asked to decorate one of the busts. I gessoed it today, and I'm going to meet up with my derby girl this week to discuss what's going on with these boobies :)

I've wanted to do a self portrait for awhile, and I was really interested in these old windows I found on the curb. I'm trying to incorporate foreground and background in a new way with these, and this was my first go. It's not entirely finished yet.

I've also become OBSESSED with the new Black Keys album, Brothers, that came out this week. I may just have to draw that duo.... Dan Auerbach is super fun to draw, and Patrick Carneys glasses are pretty sweet too. I've watched the video for "Tighten Up" more times than I'd like to admit.

Zen and the art of Catering Part 2

Zen and the art of Catering Part 1

This week is hell week at my job, catering breakfast, lunch, and dinner while keeping the cafe open with a staff of roughly 7 people. But how can it be hell when you're at the Rochester Zen Center, located in Batavia, New York. This was a part of my experience there today.

bike tour

This past weekend my boss and I traveled down to New York for the Five Boro Bike Tour. It was so much fun! The picture above is from the end of the ride, when many people graciously sipped beers.
It was really cool and a little overwhelming to ride with so many people. This is one of the less populated areas, sometimes it was stop and go. 32,000 people rode.

It's me! I plan on doing this again next year, but staying in New York a little longer to visit all the people I want to visit :)