The Wonders of Our Beautiful Planet

Visions of Earth from National Geographic

A Different Perspective

Nice article in Portfolio.com written by a TARP wife. I'm not sure what the acronym stands for exactly but TARP is a CEO of a company who received government bailout funds. I still don't feel bad for them because they're living the good life, but it's good to know that they're aware of how they're being scrutinized and their role in the financial crisis.

There Goes Another One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdhLQCYQ-nQ&feature=player_embedded

This was about a 6 out of 10 but it still cracked me up. I have a problem.

Because It's Friday

I finally fully recovered from Take Your Kids to Work Day. I think my biological clock temporarily stopped ticking. So I've been super duper busy, and out of laziness, but also cause I think it's interesting- I'm reposting, reposting from APhotoEditor. While you're at it, check out Martin Schoeller's images and those also represented by his rep Vaughan Hannigan. Honestly, I nearly had a cow when I checked out Julia's photos the other day. I've seen a few before but didn't know the photographer's name. Her fantastical setup with teenagers among minature structions was sort of the type of feel I was going for with my last photo shoot.

A Third Is Photography, A Third Is Diplomacy, And A Third Is Politics

Martin Schoeller talks with writer Charlie Fish (read more here) for a piece in Resource Magazine. Here’s a couple quotes:

“If you’re going to take a picture, really try to make it the best picture you’ve ever taken, every time. Always strive for the best you can do.” This level of professionalism requires that you live, breathe and eat photography, and that every step along the way is executed with great attention to—what else—the details. “If you want to be a photographer,” he advises, “Be a photographer ten hours a day instead of spending five hours retouching some half-ass picture you don’t like in the first place.”

Schoeller reveals, “If you want to do portraits, you have to be outgoing and be able to engage people. I always say a third is photography, a third is diplomacy, and a third is politics. By doing a lot of research and finding out what they have done in the recent past I know where their mind is at. I’m able to engage them in a conversation so they forget for a moment that they’re being photographed.” While this may be common practice to many photographers, Schoeller’s research manifests itself in another way. “I always play music that I think they might like, or remind them of their childhood. We always have a little stereo with us.”

Good Photographers Are Trouble Makers

Check out this quick post by Thoughts of a Bohemian about good photographers being trouble makers because they want to shake up our perception of reality. Speaking of photography, I had a wonderful night in on Friday. I took my first outdoor run of 2009- up the East River to 34th street, walked back towards my gym and lifted. Then I decided to try a photography technique from class right as I got home. 3 hours later and I was still taking self portraits and still lives- mixing flash and ambient light. As luck would have it, I discovered a TV channel devoted to art called Ovation TV. They had a show about Edward Weston and then another one about Cindy Sherman, so I had that on as I was shooting. Below are some of my favorite shots. They aren't the most flattering but they're pretty accurate as to how I look :) I mean I've got the frizztastic hair, that post work out glow.. and maybe I tiny bit of makeup left over from my morning application. Blowing out a person's face does wonders for the under eye circles and every other flaw alla a Michael Thompson photo.

You Have to Have Dreams

Susan Boyle- Britain's got Talent

Happy Birthday!

TO ME!

Perhaps some of the worst weather I've had on my birthday but the forecast for the next few days certainly makes up for it. Coincidentally, my sister will have similarly bad weather on the 20th- her birthday. So yeah, I'm turning 28. In 2 years, I will no longer be a twenty-something. Two year countdown to achieve everything I set out to do in my twenties.

Cheers!

Advice for Single Ladies

Ever get that feeling sometime about 15 days after you've had your period? You're feeling thin, sort of on fire, hot, like you are turning yourself on? And like all eyes are on you? Well folks, it's called ovulating. These feelings are like our unconscious mating calls. Use it to your advantage. Not that I would ever um, advocate drinking but if there's one weekend you shouldn't stay in it would be the ovulating weekend. Read more here. Take notes. And for those brave ladies having trouble deciding if they really have chemistry with their beaus, take a sniff of him sans cologne, while he's relatively clean of course.

A quick look at a Wikipedia article reveals that ovulation only occurs in one day. Der, I suppose I should remember this from health. So ladies, that's only one day to get yourself out there and um, don't get pregnant in the process. Jeeze. No wonder why it's so hard to find a man! Oh boo. Meanwhile.. I have discovered that my next one (is this TMI??) falls on a Monday so fat chance of me finding love on one of the lamest days of the week.

Nice Work Lindsay

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

Hello Gorgeous

I recently got back from IKEA where I can safely say that I lost an hour and a half of my life that I will never get back. Granted they have some good stuff, but my father has some weird mistrust and hatred against the Swedish giant, clouding every purchase. After many fantasies of actually organizing my tiny apartment by making use of vertical space, I walked out with a single swivel chair and 2 magenta window curtains. Reality set in that perhaps it wasn't the best idea to push my abilities to lug things up 3 flights of stairs. It's best that I wait until after my potential move. I left and instinctively headed to West Elm, a much calmer scene full of beautiful objects I could neither afford, or carry up 3 flights of stairs. Defeated once again, I decided to check out the new Fairway that just opened up in Paramus.

Conclusion. I cannot live in the suburbs of New York or at least overcrowded, over commercialized Northern, New Jersey. And on that note, here's some real decorating inspiration!

Thoughts

Wow, has it been that long since I last wrote. Lately I've been feeling sort of restless. I guess cause I'm hitting on my 28th birthday on Wednesday. Yikes! I'm pretty sure every person who has asked for my age has been shocked when I have told them I'm approaching 30. Hopefully it's only because I look young rather than act it. Back to this feeling of restlessness.. I'm feeling the pressure to do something crazy like move out of New York City and live in Paris for a few years. I'm single, have a good, solid group of friends I know I can maintain touch with. And the past 2 years has taught me that I can easily make new friends. And I know myself well enough to realize that if I don't achieve everything I've set out to do, then I'll have regrets.

So while we're on the subject, here's a tentative list of what I'd like to achieve before I'm 30. Um, no pressure Molly. Really.
1. Start a Masters program. This is yet to be decided on. Either an MFA in photography or if something crazy happens within the next year that sways me a different way- an MBA, MA in Art History, Communications or something related to Environment/ Marketing. I know. I'm so decisive.
2. Pay off all credit card debt. Jeeze it's about time, although going to graduate school would be counter-productive in this area.
3. Find a boyfriend/ future husband. Thanks to that thing called my biological clock, I need to start a family fairly soon.
4. And- now this is a crazy one that I haven't discussed at all yet- Finish novel.

Now I put this one out to my readers. What crazy changes have you made in your life as a last minute effort to achieve a goal before turning 30? Was it a good decision?

Live Every Day to the Fullest

San Francisco at its Best

My new favorite street photo

Amazing Lunch in Sausalito

Pizza with prosciutto, artichoke hearts and olives.

San Francisco Chronicals

People have been asking me if I plan on moving to San Francisco any time soon. I thought long and hard about this- running check lists through my head as I wandered around. I definitely love that it's close to the great outdoors. New Yorkers get excited about taking a mini vacation to Coney Island or Central Park for some fresh air. Whereas the air in San Francisco is always fresh and the lack of foot traffic prevents you from having that viceral reaction of wanting to leave the city every once in a while. Not to mention a short and cheap ferry ride can get you to Sausolito- a quiet resort town on the water, devoid of activites that don't involve walking or eating... slowly.

BUT for me, when it comes down to it, New York is the best place for my industry. The hills in San Francisco exaust me and stiffle my sense of adventure since I'm thinking of my next destination in terms of level of difficulty. I came during a lucky, but very uncharacteristic patch of five day sun whereas their weather is usually more like what New York is experiencing right now.

My trip did make a lasting impression on me. I'm almost positive that despite loving my neighborhood, I will not be able to stand living in a shoebox much longer. I'm going to start looking to move to a quieter area by June 1st. I had an amazing time with my WCS and a few others we dined with along that way that I've managed to keep in touch with. Laughed harder than I have in months. Had some fantastic food everynight for Italian to Tapas. Yum. And was inspired by San Francisco colorful design at the MOMA and from the stores of Castro. Had moments where the beauty of the city literally took my breath away. And concluded the whole trip with a slightly miserable red-eye flight where I landed in cold, rainy New York and couldn't help but to laugh. Life is good.

Apartments and Cha cha cha Changes

I'm definitely enjoying my stay in San Francisco. It's been so relaxing to walk around alone and explore, then meet up with my friend for dinner and drinks. Plus it's nice to wake up to sunlight! Even with the shades drawn closed, we get more light pleasantly waking us up in the morning, than in my apartment. I guess it's for the best since people start their work days here at 8am. Yikes! I've been contemplating moving here just because if I'm going to live somewhere else for a time, now is it. I'm single. Have no babies. Have tons of friends in New York and my family is there but I can always keep in touch with them.

I think my sub-conscious freaked out about all my thoughts about change. I had a bad dream this morning that involved people changing our office around completely while I was away. They moved my desk to uncover a family of kittens. Looked up kittens and it said something about an independent, playful spirit. Hmm. Anyway, I was sort of freaked out about it all. Then I went to tell this couple about the situation, blah blah blah, and woke up to see my friend (who was in my dream) texted me. Weird.

That's all for now mainly cause I need to get my butt out the door and continue exploring. My friend's apartment is beautiful. She has tons of space and only pays slightly more than I do even though she has a studio. Perhaps if I don't move to San Francisco, I'll at least finally move to Brooklyn where I'll have more space. Cha cha cha changes.

Better

My friend sent me this. Better than pictures. I suppose I can forgive him for his Facebook transgression that I did not sanction. He knows what I'm talking about.

First Day in San Francisco

I totally could have woken up at 7:30 and taken advantage of my body being on East Coast time, but true to lazy form, I set my alarm for 9:20. And here I am. Debating what to do with myself. I've been here a few times and feel no pressure to do touristy things although I haven't done much of that the previous times here. So far my ass hurts from the hills. What was supposed to be a nice stroll home after pancakes and hot chocolate turned into a - I think I'm going to hurl my pancakes and hot chocolate. At least there's no worry of me getting out of shape here. Um okay. Boring myself.

What you really want to hear.. I saw a man that had a dog on a leash. On the dog sat a cat. On the cat sat a rat. And looking at this dog with a cat with a rat, was one slightly jaded New Yorker who thought she's seen it all. She hasn't.

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter. MissMolls of course. Feel free to email me with ideas on what I should do while in San Fran!

Happy Trails!

I'm sitting in the airport. Perfect timing. No running or stressing involved and I opted to take the $15 bus from Grand Central instead of a cab. Okay. So this is old news but if I'm going to complain about one extreme injustice regarding air travel it's the ridiculous cost of bottled water. Hello!!? So security makes us throw away our water bottles. A water bottle that I happened to have bought for 86 cents at the deli across my street. And because I get freaked out about water on the plane and generally always have to carry a water bottle, I bought one near the gate. It was $3!! Come on people!! If you're going to prevent us from bringing it, at least regulate the excessive food prices!

And in other news, I wore way too much magenta. It sort of happened without me realizing it. I knew that carrying around a purple suitcase meant I ran a certain risk. And the magenta backpack can always be a little embarrassing. But I forgot about my purple scarf, purple pants that I picked for comfort and bright pink purse. Oy vey.

P.S. I'm taking Virgin America. I feel like I've mentioned that before. I already get the sense that it's like a single airplane. Hmm. What a concept. I have a good feeling about this. At the risk of being made fun of, I'm going to say that yes, I've already noticed about 4 rather attractive guys who will be on my flight and I haven't even made the effort to look around. Hmm. Hopefully one of them will have a fondness for purple.