weapons of massdistraction

Attempting to find the humor in any given situation is a skill I’ve cultivated over the years. There were some pretty discouraging moments over the long weekend, trapped indoors during the St. Paul Art Crawl. Especially so when passers by expressed outright disgust over our artwork, right in front of us (this happened to both the boyfriend and myself - and we’d put up our most palatable, inoffensive pieces for this crowd). But I’m trying to look on the bright side. I had some pleasant conversations with some lovely folks - both artists and visitors. I got to play with some adorable geckos. I did make a few sales (it’s never too late, purchases can always be made via etsy) and my son enjoyed watching his old tech VHS tapes on the boyfriend’s functioning VCR in his loft…while texting me ridiculous messages like “doodoobuttpoopyhead” - thanks kid.

After spending the bulk of the weekend indoors I headed outside before dark last night. Yeah, just to my own backyard, but it was a joy to capture some of the fall color there and then kick back in a lawn chair with a good book or two. And I submitted one of those photos to Heather Champ’s 10/10/10 project.

Five good and/or weird things:

• So absurd! Russia inflates its military with blow-up weapons (this one is bound to end up on Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me)
• Nadav Kander’s Yangtze River photo series is achingly beautiful.
• I’m pretty happy to be well beyond my teen years - I wouldn’t care to re-live them again for anything - but I would like to attend the Walker’s Teen Program this Thursday, as street artist Swoon will be in attendance, talking about her amazing wheat-paste prints and cut-paper figures.
• A typically amusing interview with David Sedaris. His new collection, Squirrel Meets Chipmunk, has came out in September.
• The life cycle of the bat symbol. Must show that to my son.

Last Friday I had a delightful - and delightfully weird - photo shoot with musician Curtiss A. That got me even more excited about more upcoming collaborative photo projects and group art shows and preparing to submit to Paper Darts Literary Magazine. Creating the art, as I’m compelled to, scratches an itch. And I’d do it even if no one looked at it (though I’m glad for the feedback, positive or negative, really). It’s one of the best ways to get through a long Minnesotan winter. And that really is right around the corner, even if we are in the throes of Indian summer right now.