Treasures from the Delaware Seashore State Park:
All images copyright emilie kleiner 2010. Please do not steal my images.
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May 10, 2010
April 20, 2010
Movie Monday
I know I'm a day late, but when I woke up this morning it felt like Monday, so this still counts.
For my first review of 2010 is the movie Up in the Air, which released late last year. I had no idea what to expect from it, because I didn't really understand the plot from the trailers that I saw. Low expectations are usually good for me when I watch movies. Anyway, here is where I issue a SPOILER alert:
George Clooney's character is an emotionally and physically isolated businessman who fires people at companies across the nation for a living. He's likeable enough, but he has the usual annoying consummate bachelor quirks--casual relationships, lives in a hotel, barely knows his family. Then, magically, two women come into his life that each have major impacts on his philosophy. Yadda yadda yadda. I know that some people found the movie to be depressing, but I didn't. It wasn't a happily ever after kind of film, but it also wasn't one of those pretentious indie films that has a tragic ending because, well, that's practically the only kind of ending there is for a pretentious indie film. So. I think it was provocative enough to leave the viewer thinking about what it's like to be laid off, or how you'd really once you let it sink in that you spent most of your adult life shutting everyone, including your own family, out. You now have no memories that involve others who are close to you--you are always alone. Definitely something to ponder.
I'm glad I saw it. Some movies speak to me, and this one did. Netflix it, baby!
April 18, 2010
Treasure Hunting
I have an innate desire to find things. I do crossword puzzles and find answers to clues. I like to find the clean surface beneath a layer of grime and dust (vacuum cleaner commercials are especially thrilling for me). If you have misplaced your car keys, please ask me to help you find them. But my favorite thing of all is treasure hunting on a beach. Give me pieces of coral, small pebbles that have been tumbled in the surf, larger stones with striations of white that mark them like the trajectories left behind by airplanes in the sky. Even better are the whelks and razor clams and driftwood.
I'm sure there are many psycho-therapuetic inferences you could make about me, like I'm still searching for my purpose in life or something, but I doubt it. I think I'm just weird, and I've accepted that long ago. So anyway, on Good Friday this year my family and I went to the Delaware Seashore State Park to picnic and find little gifts from the sea.
Here are some of the photos from our trip. I'll have shots of my little treasures later on, but here you can see the peacefulness that is the shore. I think I should move there.
Ladybugs like to hide under the dune grasses that blow onto the shore.
A driftwood boomerang
Paradise on the coast of Delaware...it will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.
All images are copyright emilie kleiner, 2010.
April 13, 2010
Temptation
I’m in a fight—with someone who shall remain nameless—because she has introduced me to the drool-worthy shoes by Chelsea Crew. Holy schnickes. I’ve been scouring the interweb for great deals on this pair of shoes, and perhaps I will be successful. I’ll be sure to let you all know. I can’t stop thinking about those shoes today.
In other news, I am absolutely thrilled now that yard sales are in full swing. I have a few to check out this weekend.I can’t help myself. But seriously, I’m on a budget so I am trying to find used versions of what I need, like a toaster or a blender. Shouldn’t be much worse than the crappy blender from the 1980’s that I’m currently using. Oh, and I use a skillet to make toast. So that gets a little annoying.
I wish that instead of working today, even though I’ve been very productive, I was at home cleaning my apartment. I am suffering through CHAOS—Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome—and need to remedy that. When I get home in the evenings I’m usually too tired to clean, but sometimes I have my moments. Tonight I need to do my taxes (I am such a slacker), so the decluttering will have to wait. At least I’m getting a refund this year, so maybe I can save up for a new vacuum cleaner…
Today is Tuesday, so it’s too late for me to do a Movie Monday review, but next week I’ll be discussing Whip It, Up in the Air, and New Moon. As for the rest of this week, who knows what I’ll write. Perhaps I’ll finally find time to take photos of all the treasures I found at Delaware Seashore State Park last Friday. It was a goldmine!
March 29, 2010
Cicada Design
Yeah, so we're not going to talk about why I haven't been updating my blog lately. I'm embarrassed. You all can come up with your own fantastical reasons, if you wish.
I am excited to announce that I have finally opened up my own jewelry business: Cicada Design. I have opened up shop at Etsy and I'm applying for some local and regional craft shows. I'm living my dream! Ha ha. This really has been a passion of mine for years, and folks, it was only fear that was holding me back. Don't let that stop you all--learn from my mistake.
Here is some of my work (all images copyright emilie kleiner 2010. Please ask permission before using):
All work is low carbon steel and various semi-precious gem stone beads, except for the last picture, which is a vintage celluloid tatting shuttle.
I love to be creative and I know this will fill a huge, gaping hole in my soul that has been missing since I graduated from college with my art degree. I'm excited to be on this path and can't wait to make a name for myself!
September 06, 2009
Helpful Advice
The Last Judgement by Michelangelo
Some helpful advice for you, my friends: don't fall asleep while watching the History Channel's two-hour line up of end times prophecies and apocalypse theories. Yikes.
May 04, 2009
Movie Monday
Oops, I haven't done one of these in a while! I'll review a couple movies to make up for it:
I rented this movie mostly because I like Edward Burns and Jennifer Ehle. Plus, mysteries are fun. This one was interesting because the main question of how a young prep school boy named Gus died--whether by murder or suicide--didn't have a predictable or pat ending. I am also interested in films that have underlying themes of police corruption (not because I think all cops are corrupt, just that it makes for a juicy plot) and unresolved family trauma. All of those elements were present! Great shots of upstate New York in the dead of winter, too. I think the story was a little weird at times with the hasty cuts into flashbacks, but overall it was a good rainy day flick.
So I loved and hated this movie. The reasons for hating it was no fault of the film's; it was a matter of personal taste. I dislike situations of marital infidelity and the untimely death of a main character in films. However, the music was incredible, and so was the acting. It was a beautiful story of love between two brothers. Also exciting were cameo appearances of Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, and Desi Aranz, Jr.! The way the characters are developed is above average and I think my favorite performance was by Maruschka Detmers as Delores Fuentes. If you don't mind sad stories, or if you totally get into the mambo, you should watch this.
May 01, 2009
I Waunt That...
This person is a genius:
Image via etsy.foliage.com, copyright 2009
Because of a blog post on Boing Boing, these guys sold out yesterday. Dang.
The best part is the description, which says, "wash your hands with hands!" and that the soaps are handmade. Love it!
**soaps were made by Foliage. You can see their other listings on Etsy.com.
April 23, 2009
List
Cute babies always make me smile. Image copyright emilie kleiner 2009.
Things that made me happy today:
Waking up to sunshine
Getting hugs from Taylor and Shaquanna at the Learning Center
Lunch with Gerry, Arun and Saprina at Gerry's Goods
Smelling cartons of strawberries at the grocery store
The ability to laugh at being told I have no ass by some neighborhood punks
Drinking a sparkling pomegranate Izze with dinner
Realizing that this weekend I get to be surrounded by art and craft
Snuggling with my kitties on the couch
I believe you can always find at least three good things about each day. Try it some time...especially when you're feeling blue. I love my life.
