So it goes.

I love Kurt Vonnegut.

Don't you just love Kurt Vonnegut? All that wit-meets-nonsense mixed with crazy idealism. Something about the way he sets things up, makes the regular seem outrageous, makes the outrageous seem regular, makes you want to scream and laugh and cry, just from a 3-word sentence:


"So it goes."

That's the line from Slaughterhouse-five that all the hipster kids get tattooed on the nape of their necks. And it's the line that I, a person who self-righteously denies any such descriptor for myself, wanted to put into cross-stitch today.

Wanna see?

There's my PCStitch design.

And there's the real thing.


So what does it mean?

Hmph. You tell me. But I'll give you my interpretation: no matter how ridiculous a scenario, how difficult a situation, how terrible or terrific an outcome... the world keeps on turning, and life goes on. This speaks to me and makes me feel better at this particular moment in my life. Thus, the cross-stitched proverb.


I, however, am not headed to the tattoo parlor with my neck bared. Sorry Kurt. Embroidery floss will have to do.

Don't be a hard rock, when you really are a gem

First things first:

I would like to recommend the use of iTunes Genius, which I used for the first time today, on this entry's title song

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and enjoyed the results immensely. Sometimes all you need is a little mix of Lauryn Hill, Usher, Missy Elliot, India.Arie, Prince, Erykah, and Aretha Franklin.



In other news, I've had a rough couple of weeks having to do with a youthful indiscretion (I figure youth remains an excuse until 25? that's my reckoning anyway) that I am not quite ready to share with the entire web community, but things are turning out alright. Unfortunately, that pretty much closes the door on that subject. But to those of you who know what I'm talking about, thanks for the support. It's the hard times in life that remind you how important friends and family are.

And, speaking of friends and family, I have a few new pics, taken with my latest photographic equipment:

My new Canon AE-1! Ok, so it's actually old, and it really works less painlessly than my automatic Nikon, but hey, the Nikon died, and I'm recently inspired by the older, less digital modes of photographic art. Also, not pictured is the awesome Native American-inspired camera strap, the awesome camera bag, and the extra lenses that came with the camera! My first ebay purchase, and I must say, I'm proud. Now, if only I had a darkroom...

Anyway. Here are a few samples. 

Remnants of a fire

Walking buddy

The walk to Hickory Hill

Cat nap

Oh, sweet thangs...

Daddy's chicks

Hannah's beautiful Beatles-inspired seranade

A Yankee in the Deep South

Playing with the baby chicks

This must be right before we realized we were locked in

At which point, I just started playing...
And then we screamed for Molly.

Sweet.

Hannah and Mom jam out to hippie tunes

The infamous El Mariachi birthday "dessert-on-face and sombrero" routine

Like sister, like brother

Oh, Kate...

These last few images are a little weird, because, well, I started taking pictures with the Nikon that died, then it died, then I put the partially used film in my Canon, and, well, there were sort of strange overlaps at the end. Most were too strange to actually use. But these weren't too bad.

Kate and Charlie

Birfday girl, and the loot

Highlights of this reel = Cole's brief visit, my adorable pets, my even more adorable cousin Hannah (sorry Molly, I only got one picture of you, and it wasn't very well composed), some adorable baby chicks (more specifically, proof of mine and Hannah's lock-in at the chicken coop), and my lovely (and lovable) coworkers.

And my mantra of the month:

Even when life ain't great, 

Life is good.

Also known as, "Get over it."

Meet me in the garden of Eden, bring a friend.

Garden of Eden, my parents' back yard, same diff... 

More photos, for your viewing pleasure! I've got the square shots as usual, but I also just used up the last bit of power my Nikon 35mm had left in her for 2 rolls, one of which had been sitting in the camera since, say, summertime 2 years ago? A few nice surprises. Plus some new black and white of those precious nieces 'o mine. And let's not forget the beautiful flowers and surroundings of the Garrison homestead!

Home, itself.

 Micah, you can use that one for a sketch, ey?

Planter, turned semi-birdhouse.

Hidden treasures.
(this was last season's Abita Strawberry, closed up in the old cabinet)

This one's for you, Mom:

My mother is SUPER proud of these crazy bloom-type things coming out of her palm tree.
Pretty nice, I agree.

And here is some more of her prized flora...

Azaleas, with flash. The pink ones really do smell the best...

Some of Mom's yard art.

Purple flowers? I have no clue what these are.

Some sort of thornless rose. I love these.
They're yellow, which you unfortunately can't tell very well.

Double exposure of the white and red azaleas

Budding beauty.

Iris! With a fly on it!

Lovely bryophyta.

Wild azaleas! My parents actually forced my hand at this one, which is no complaint.
Although I did almost take an unintended dive into the creek for it...

My beloved Sweet Olive branch.

Sometimes I'm amazed at how cute my animals can be. Although I love Fern just as much, most of photos of her don't turn out well. Fanny's, on the other hand, are usually quite adorable:

Sleepy Fanny, finds some sun.

One of the trucks that helped clearcut our neighboring pine forest. Boo...

The girls' visit, in 35 mm:

Buddy, the hand puppet wolf, is a recurring character in these photos. Watch out, he Bites!

Shelby = totally into "Extraordinary Chickens."
Peyton = not so much.

Shelby's photography skills always impress me...

Howlin' wolf.

While Gran'ma Nielle takes Peyton back to the house on the Mule,
Shelby and I walked through the woods. 

Or, may I rephrase that: I walked, Shelby ran.
That girl sho' can hustle!

Creekside walkin, with Too-big sweaters on.
And a bunch of dogs.

Oh my, at the adorable..

I think she wants to drive, Gran'ma Nielle...

At this point in the photo storybook, I get to the old stuff. First, there's the sweet random photos:

Bouquet from our neighbors at Granada Lake, many moons ago...

Crazy flower, I think this was outside of our Bay St. apartment?

Lastly, let's have a photographic Ode to Uncle Lew.

You see, short months before my Dad's only brother passed away, they worked on a little project together. They built a shed. We all helped, actually. Some of us before Lew passed, and even more of us after. And, while his death was grievous and the time was terrible, for my father and his sister especially, I like to think of the finished product as well as the simple memory of the process as a wonderful reminder of their relationship, and of the importance of spending quality time with those you love the most.

So here are some photos of the shed-building process, which have been safely nestled away in my camera, unbeknownst to me, for about 2 years now. You can see the age in the color. I like it though..

Dad and Uncle Lew, chiseling rafters together.

 And here's one last picture of our sweet Lew:

He was a crazy ole' cooter...

There's definitely a Ben Franklin quote to be interjected here, but I never was good with remembering things verbatim. So, I'd say the take-home message is:

Be genuinely glad about how beautiful your world can be. Let go of your troubles (dogs and drinks help!). Love your family and friends just as much and as long as you can. And don't take yourself too damned seriously!