Originality is non-existent...

"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember that Jean-Luc Godard said: "It's not where you take things from - it's where you take them to." - Jim Jarmusch

For years I have saved a smörgåsbord of images and never looked at them again. I saved them because, for one reason or another (even if I can't remember) they have moved me in some shape or form. Some things here are mine, others are not. I decided to jump on the blogging bandwagon and use this as a scrapbook/sketchbook/treasure chest/etc. to store said images/quotes/ideas/artwork/things that catch my fancy. If you see something here that is yours, please let me know and I will give credit where credit is due. All pictures here belong to their respective owners and I take no credit unless they are my own ideas/artwork/photographs/etc. Nevertheless, I truly do believe that originality is non-existent...

I like the color red, photography, vampires, movies, traveling, art, cooking/baking, and cats (among many other things, Skjønner du?). I am unconditionally and irrevocably in love with my husband. As Margaret Atwood so eloquently stated, I too "believe that everyone else my age is an adult whereas I am merely in disguise."

CODE YEAR

My sister told be about this and I just signed up for this FREE service. It’s worth a shot. 

Sign up for Code Year to start receiving a new interactive programming lesson every Monday. You’ll be building apps and websites before you know it!

Pedro and I LOVE this SHOW!!!

Parenting Tips From Chris and Reagan in ‘Up All Night’

By Krystal Lyons | Yahoo! Contributor Network – 23 hours ago
Mehregan Javanmard

If you’re a new mom or dad bent on “being the best parent since Claire Huxtable,” NBC’s new comedy “Up All Night,” starring Will Arnett, Christina Applegate, and Maya Rudolph, offers these tips.

  • Talk to your folks — “Oh god, she just made the same ‘I-hate-my-mom’ noise that I just made. Oh god, am I teaching her to hate her mom?” Becoming a parent can put a whole new spin on your relationship with your own parents. While you can’t force a connection that isn’t there, they really may be able to help.
  • Make sure your car is practical - If, like Reagan, you feel conflicted about letting go of your sports car in exchange for a Mom-mobile, just remember that “even the Beastie Boys have kids now.” Maybe instead of a minivan you can find something more like “…what Mike D would drive his kids to soccer in.”
  • Be flexible - “The plan is the only thing that is keeping me from complete chaos right now. Honey, our lives are changing forever. Do you understand that?” Nothing about Amy’s birth went the way Chris and Reagan thought it would and that’s just the beginning of their journey as parents. Plan while you can, but you can’t prepare for everything. Sometimes you’ll have to play it by ear.
  • Make time for play time - This goes for all of you. “I don’t feel ready [to leave our daughter overnight] either, but if we wait until we’re ready, the child is gonna be in college. And you know what? Let’s face it, you’re probably gonna be dead.” It won’t be easy carving out quality time to spend as a family, as a couple, and on your own, but you’ll need all three to manage the stress. Otherwise, you may manage to convince yourself “that your eight-month-old daughter called you a jerk.”
  • Get into it - “What does this smell like?” “Waxy cinnamon?” “Christmas! It smells like Christmas.” As a general rule, children like holidays more than adults do. Lights, presents, candy, these things mean a lot to a kid. The holidays are a chance to get into the spirit and make magical memories with your child, whether that be by honoring the family traditions you grew up with or by starting new ones.

“Up All Night” is now its first season on NBC. Watch it Thursdays at 9:30/8:30 Central or catch up with the latest episodes online at Hulu.

(via here)

I am going to continue to pass this one along…

A well-known speaker started off his seminar holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.”

He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, “Who still wants it…?” Still the hands were up in the air. “Well,…” he replied, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless, but no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. You are special - Don’t EVER forget it.”

Count your blessings, not your problems.

What I get to look forward to

What I get to look forward to

bitchville:

Doug Bloodworth’s artistic perspective is influenced by childhood affection for American western classics and the quintessential youth of the American dream. A combination of Pop Art, photography and textural paint strokes, his work was born from inspirations that began when he was a boy, and have grown into the refined craft of photorealism.

Milk and Cookies - realistic oil paintings by Doug Bloodworth.

Um….seriously?!