Lucky Ball

What a crazy weekend it's been. I know it's Monday night, but that's when my weekend ends because I'm always off Mondays. I started out Thursday night by overstretching my calf muscle (I'm back in physical therapy. Long story.) and hobbling around all weekend. That was fun. Friday night, my husband had his brother over for pizza and a movie, so I gave them some alone time by walking around Target for two hours where I seriously considered buying a Polaroid Pogo. Instead, I came home and bought a bunch of ID-UV pack film from Office Depot. I figure I should get my hands on as much Polaroid film as I can before it's gone, and then I can buy novelty items like the Pogo.

In fact, Saturday I stooped to a new low to do so. As a joke, because I despise the place, my dad gave me a Walmart gift card for my birthday. His plan was to just tease me with the card and then give me cash but instead, I got Polaroid greedy and kept the card. I went to WT Hell on a Saturday afternoon no less and exchanged the gift card for four single packs of 600, and practically ran back to the car and drove like the wind to get home so I could wash my hands and my conscience. We met our friends Wendy and Troy at the bowling alley later that day, bowled a few games, made fun of a few people, and took lots of pictures. I just love bowling. Ever since I was a kid I've wanted a bowling lane in my house. We went out to dinner after bowling and then played board games at our house and laughed our asses off. We talked about getting new tattoos and Troy's idea for his was the best: "'Sup Bitch" across his chest. We love you guys. Thanks for hanging out with us.

Sunday was slightly leisurely. We had breakfast at The Other Place in SLC with Mary, Katie, and Cass (our aunt and cousins) and almost stayed for lunch. It's that good. Trav worked on manly plumbing issues all day while I just hung out, and that night we made yummy cheddar cauliflower soup. After dinner, I walked upstairs and saw that the sun was out for the first time all day so I yelled to Trav to get his shoes on. We were going to the desert. Within five minutes, we were on the freeway. I've been dying to take some more Polaroids in the West Desert but the weather just hasn't been cooperating but it finally did last night. We got out to Saltair about 20 minutes later and I frantically took five Polaroids and ten Pentax K1000 shots and then the sun set. It was beautiful. We grabbed ice cream on the way home and crashed on the couch together for some bad tv.

I started out today with a trip to the DMV to renew my driver's license. I actually like my photo so that was a positive experience. I dropped off my K1000 film at Walgreens and then worked at home all day. I also went to Saans Downtown to talk with Shalee, the curator, about what I'm putting in her upcoming "For the Love of Polaroid" show in February. I took my binder of every Polaroid I've taken since 2005 and we came up with a great idea. I can't wait to sort everything out and get it framed and ready to go. It's going to be an amazing show. There is an open call for entries, and these submissions will fill up the windows of the gallery, and then Amanda Moore, Elizabeth Soule, Sean Tubridy, Josh Caldwell, and I will each have a 5x5' section in the main gallery to display our Polaroids. It's going to be insanely cool, so if you're in the area, the reception is on February 20. I'm so excited about it.

And that pretty much sums up my weekend. We refinanced our house tonight too because interest rates are so low, and I visited my mom for a couple hours and now I'm home and it's only 9 and I want to crawl into bed. I'm beat. I don't think I've ever talked this much about my life on my blog! Don't worry, it's not going to become habit. Hope your weekend was just as busy and fun as mine.

31!

It's been probably eight years since I've spoken up about it being my birthday (I used to do a countdown on my in-laws' bulletin board when Trav and I were dating) but this year, I thought "What the hell?", so here it is. Today is my 31st birthday! I decided about two months ago that wanted to make a list of things I'd like to accomplish before I turn 32, and here is that list. Wish me luck!

1. See Yosemite. September 2011... finally!
2. Make a Blurb book of all my Polaroids from 2005-08. (I'm counting this.)
3. Spend more time in my kayak.
4. Go to a bluegrass festival. August 2011... finally!
5. Frolic on a beach with my husband.
6. Heal the nerve damage in my ankle.
7. Make some new local friends. (although you can never have enough)
8. Go back to knitting school and actually finish something this time. Yay!
9. Get pictures taken in every photobooth I can find.
10. Ski more than once, and not break or injure anything.
11. Start and keep up on a photo project with E. Soule.
12. Shoot with my Polaroid pack film cameras and become more comfortable with the medium.
13. Eat a meatball sub from Moochie's.
14. Go to a wine appreciation class.
15. Spend at least five nights in our tent and away from home.
16. Have an inanimate object photo shoot in the West Desert.
17. Plant trees in our backyard.
18. Learn to throw a better forehand drive.
19. Shoot at least five rolls of film each in my K1000 and my Lubitel.
20. Take a Lifelong Learning course at the University of Utah.
21. Make this deliciousness.
22. Make some arty collages.
23. Learn how to maintain my website myself.
24. Find lamps for my front room.
25. See Band of Annuals in concert.
26. Go to Wyoming Downs, purely for the people-watching.
27. Roast hot dogs and marshmallows in the fire pit out back. (Close enough.)
28. Make wood boxes to display my photos on. (I think this counts.)
29. Use the watercolor paints I bought on a whim like five years ago.
30. Find two new bands to love.
31. Eat a peanut butter sandwich on the rickety deck beneath Jardine Juniper.

Baubles

Liz rocks.

Owls from Liz

Last summer, I somehow came across Liz Barker on Flickr. I loved her photos and commented here and there. Shortly after we "met", Liz was looking for a folding SX-70 and I happened to know where to get one (thanks Amanda!), so I got it and sent it to her, and ever since, she's been sending me wonderful things in the mail. The latest, for example, are these cool vintage owls. Thankfully I was home alone when the mail came because when I unwrapped the first owl, I jumped up and down, but when I saw the next two, the jumping quickly turned into something resembling Elaine's dance, which sadly, I can do quite well. So, thank you Liz for the owls, the lovely little felted ball magnets, and your friendship. You're the best.

Happy 2009!

Before we fell asleep at a very late (for us!) one o'clock this morning, we talked about how in elementary school, our teachers talked about the year 2000. At the time, it was 15 years away, forever in kid years. We thought about how we'd be 22 years old by the time the new millennium arrived, and how 22 was ancient. Now, today is the first day of 2009 and it's been 24 years since that moment when our teachers captivated us with thoughts of adulthood and driver's licenses and cars and kids even. I always thought adulthood would feel different, but I'm so happy it doesn't. I am kind of disappointed though that we don't have flying cars and hovercrafts like "the future" most certainly promised. Ah, well, at least we're not all wearing neon.

Happy 2009, friends. I hope it's stellar.