esprit de l'escalier

Going on an adventure

I'm off on an adventure tomorrow to visit this kid and his fabulous parents. I'm meeting up with Natasha, too. I get to break in my new passport. I cannot wait.

Animals on Christmas

My family and I have been traveling down to Lexington for the past several years for Christmas, and when we do, we've gotten into the habit of going to Pleasant Hill on Christmas day. Pleasant Hill is a restored Shaker village, and we like to walk through the grounds and say hello to the animals on the farm. Here are a couple of animals we visited this year.

Hello 2012

2012 kind of came in with a bang, given that I pretty quickly came down with a killer of a head cold. But my weekend was actually a lot of fun, as I tried to ignore my cold and hang out with my brother, who came in to town last minute. It was great seeing him, even if a bulk of it was spent hungover and feeling flu-y, although we did have a long talk over copious cups of tea.

New year's eve itself was fun. I went to my friend Julie's house for dinner and hang out with her and her roommates. Then I split up with them and met up with some other friends. I brought my Polaroid Spectra with me, but stupidly only brought the pack in the film. Which had one shot left. So the only shot of the night is the one above, of me and my friend Joe.

Here are some other random things I would like to share with you. One, I finally got myself a bath stopper. Oh yes. Baths are awesome. Especially when you have a head cold. Two, I started an 8 week screen printing class tonight. The "hi" up top is the negative image of my first rough go at it. You can't quite tell, but it's in hot pink. I'll scan a print when it dries later. I am going to love this class, I can tell. I am pretty sure it's going to be a rabbit hole of art classes, and I am totally okay with that. Three, well, I had some links, but maybe I'll wait. Hope 2012 is treating you all well. 

Beatles for Sale

I was an early convert to the Fab Four, after my mother slipped me a compilation tape one year in my stocking in elementary school. I loved them and loved that tape to death. When I think of the Beatles, several super fan friends pop into my head, but first and foremost is my friend Joe Peppercorn. He was my first die hard Beatles fan friend. He introduced me to lots of music in high school and college, but to me, he is synonymous with Revolver. We were on the school paper together, and he played that album again and again in the staff room. I own it either because he gave it to me, or I just was convinced of its greatness and/or missed him and hearing it in college.

I bring this all up because I just came from listening to him play the Beatles. He's playing all of the recorded Beatles works in chronological order tonight, with a little help from some friends. (He was in the paper today about it!) He started around 4pm and probably has another couple of hours to go.This is the second year he's done this crazy marathon, but I missed last year's performance. I'm so glad I was able to see some of this year's.

I had hoped to get in to hear A Hard Day's Night, but missed it, arriving to catch Beatles for Sale. (I do love the early Beatles. I am a sucker for early 60s pop.) I hadn't planned on staying that long, but evetually my friends and I decided we needed to wait to hear Revolver. I left after the band closed out Sgt. Pepper.

My friends and I were the dancing girls in the back against the wall. The night was one big sing-a-long, with us twisting and shouting along. A favorite moment tonight? The audience participation in "I Just Saw A Face." That was a song I remember listening to over and over, rewinding the tape, so I could memorize the words. Or maybe how every so often he would preface a song by shouting, "And this one is by the Beatles!" I stayed for about 80 songs, out of the 215 they are planning on singing and playing tonight. I hope Joe doesn't lose his voice for too long after this. Great fun all the same. Well done sirs.

A bit of a purge

Tonight I took four bags to Goodwill and had a full trash can out at the curb. It feels so good to have a bit of a purge, especially since my apartment (bedroom specifically) has been looking like an episode of Hoarders.

Several months ago my mother dropped off a car load of stuff from their house, mostly stuff I was hoping to not have to deal with ever again. I have slowly been weeding my way through those boxes, as well as several tupperware bins of crap going back to college. Tonight I felt like I have made it to the other side and am on the home stretch. Yes, I still have three boxes of books that need to be sold, but my apartment is beginning to look respectable again. Thank god. I hope I can continue to whittle down my possessions. I feel too laden down in nonsense. Here's to a lighter 2012!

Instant Christmas

My parents and I took our annual Christmas trip down to Lexington to visit our friends Jack and Rob. Sadly my siblings didn't make it this year, with my sister in Montana and my brother in Istanbul (!). All the same, we had a great trip. Christmas eve I ate my weight in cheese. Christmas day we went walking in Pleasant Hill, the Shaker village outside of town. I shot a roll on my Yashica Mat there. I also got a good long visit with my dear friends Libby, Ryan, and her parents. Good friends, good food, good visits. Good trip all around. I hope you all had lovely weekends. Here are some Impossible Project shots I took witih my trusty Polaroid SX-70.

Benedetti Christmas party

Last night was my friends' annual Christmas party. It's my favorite party of the season. There's a hilarious cover band, a great spread, and an interesting mix of people. I promised my friend Tina that she would be "all over" my blog today. Here are some shots I took with some Impossible Project film (love this stuff). I hope you all have a great holiday weekend!

Views from Philly

My parents and I went to Philly over Thanksgiving. They stayed with my aunt and uncle, and I stayed with my cousin. These are photos from her apartment. Nice work if you can get it.

Instant kitties

Today I got a note from my friend Mark that made me happy. Thanks Mark. I also got a roll of film back that I had slowly clicked my way through in October and November, which also made me happy. I should have some photos to share, along with some stories I have not yet told.

These two polaroids are of my friend Natasha's kitties, Pushkin and Mila. I used some of the Impossible Project's new black and white film for my Spectra. How have I ignored this film for so long? It is spectacular.

I was in Chicago this weekend. We had a nuclear family get together, as my sister and her husband were in town and my brother lives there. It was nice to see everyone. I've been missing my siblings lately, and neither are coming home for Christmas. It was seriously cold and I walked and walked and walked for three days straight. I didn't have enough time to see everyone I would have liked to have seen, but it was good to see those that I did.

This coming week is slightly nuts. Christmas parties start up this weekend, and I'm kind of excited for all of them. Hope you all have a great week!

Two songs on a Tuesday

I am sitting in my kitchen, waiting for some things in the dryer to finish, smelling my dinner cooking, listening to some Billie Holiday. Her sad, beautiful voice is perfect on this cold, rainy night. One of my all-time favorite songs is the one above. I'd like to be dancing to it right now.

This next song is another favorite, this time by Ryan Adams. Yesterday I ran across this version of it, with Laura Marling providing back-up vocals. It gives me chills.

Oh good, I got up from this to chop an onion and managed to cut two fingers. I own THE CRAPPIEST knives ever. I hope my sister got my note about getting me a good chef's knife for Christmas. (Hint, hint, Alix.) Anyone want to come chop an onion for me? Enjoy the music. I'm going back to it. Wish me luck.

Impossible Philly

I got out of town for Thanksgiving, which was very needed. My mother and I met up with my Dad in Philadelphia at my aunt and uncle's new apartment. I stayed with my cousin Carol and got to meet my cousin Bert's new baby girl, both of which were fun. So crazy to see my cousin as a dad - a good one at that! The three of us kids went to see the new Muppet movie, which was great. (I've been singing Muppet songs ever since.) Carol and I went out Salsa dancing one night, too.

It was good to get out of town, even if it meant driving the Pennsylvania Turnpike the day before Thanksgiving in the rain. Here are a couple of shots on Impossible Project film from my trip.

Under a cloud

I have not been feeling myself lately. I have been waking up in sour moods that have been hard to shake. I realized today, after spending the morning grumping on Twitter about seemingly everything, that this was not about waking up on the wrong side of the bed. It was really about Frank. I was telling my mother about my moods and she interrupted me to tell me that the cat has really affected her too. I am fine most of the time - as long as I can be distracted - but alone I find myself falling under a cloud I can't shake. Tonight, as Mom and I watched our program, I sat and picked all of the burrs out of a fleece blanket Frank used to sleep on. It always seemed like a losing battle to do so before.

I feel odd writing about it or talking about what I'm feeling. For one, it seems too personal to share, and for two, it seems decidedly boring. Who wants to hear about me randomly crying at my desk? I want to write about other things - like the fun things I got up to this weekend that were all about art - but I just wanted to acknowledge the cloud.

My mom and I are off tomorrow on a roadtrip to Philadephia. Dad is meeting up with us, and we're all feasting with my Aunt and her family. She and her husband have recently moved away from near us to Philly. I'm excited to go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to meet one cousin's new baby, and catch up with everyone. I also hope to walk a lot. To try and lose this cloud.

Thank you

I want to send some thanks out to all of you, readers and non readers, friends in real life and those I know only from the internet, fellow pet owners, and family. Losing Frank has been really difficult, and hearing from you all has really meant a lot to me. Thank you again. I'm humbled and warmed by your thoughts.

Remembering Frank

Today I had confirmation of our worst fears for the last two weeks. My darling cat Frank was found dead. He had been hit by a car about two weeks ago and was hidden from view. My mother has spent the last two weeks canvassing the neighborhood with flyers with Frank's photo. On Sunday my parents went knocking on doors of a condo community just below us on the hill. There they met a woman who knew and liked Frank. Frank used to come hang out with her and her bichon frise, Maxwell in her backyard. It's because of her that we were able to find his body and to get closure over his disappearance. I love knowing about a friend he had. Him befriending an older lady and her dog seems just right for my Frank, as he loved people and loved hanging out.

I was exceedingly lucky with Frank. I choose him entirely based on looks, and he turned out to have a fantastic personality. My co-worker's parents' cats had kittens and she sent photos around. I wasn't even looking for a cat, but I saw a photo of a little gray kitten with white socks and I knew we were meant to be. I didn't even know if he was a boy or girl, I just wanted that cat in my life. 

He was such a fun cat. He loved people and he loved being out on our hill at my parents' house. He was happiest on a sunny day, sitting in the catmint munching or sprawled out on the flagstones, listening to us talk and work in the yard. I have never known a cat that was so full of joy. When you would go outside, and walk up the hill, he would dart past you and run in a way that conveyed pure bliss. He was a show-off too, and would occasionally jump up on a tree trunk, and look back at you, hanging, as if to say, "Aren't I great?" He was. He loved us and we loved him.

When our family dog died several years ago, my mother wrote my siblings and I an email. In it she said this, which I have paraphrased to every friend who has lost a pet since. Her words are so true:

I have always thought humans were so lucky to have these marvelous creatures to have as friends and companions in life. The happiest humans out there are those who love their pets, great and small. And I, personally, have cast a beady eye upon those who don't get it. A part of me stands suspicious of them, sensing something missing.

We are so lucky to have pets in our lives. They enrich our lives and I think they make us better humans. I miss you, Frank. We did not get enough time together.

Instant shots from this weekend

I also took my trusty SX-70 Polaroid camera out this weekend, loaded with some Impossible Project film. Here are a couple of shots. Apparently I neglected this pack too long...