Tuesday, March 31, 2009

All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream






Im crazy about this film and lately I've been in the mood to rent it again. Picnic at Hanging Rock, directed by Peter Weir, is based on the novel of the same title and tells of the mysterious disappearance of a group of Australian schoolgirls in 1900. The girls completely vanish while hiking on a day trip to a rock formation in the Australian bush. Weir's film is famous for its unresolved ending and the eerie undercurrents that run throughout.

The cinematography is quite beautiful. I can't help but think Sofia Coppola must have seen the film because I think there's a strong influence in The Virgin Suicides. The girls loll about in white dresses looking beautiful and serene, but there is an underlying tension lurking beneath the surface. "The contrast between transplanted English tradition with the ancient, spiritual wilderness of Australia permeates the film" (explained in Wikipedia--spot on).

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Wanderings and musings...

We had a crazy seven minute storm this evening. Torrential downpour, hail, thunder and lightning--the works. It was over as quickly as it started. I took this photo on my cell phone. Looks like a moonlit river, but it's actually a baseball field drenched by the storm. I thought the city lights looked pretty reflecting off the water.

I went out walking after the storm and headed to my favorite coffeehouse to read. I've randomly picked up a copy of The Great Gatsby again, and I'm so glad I did. I read the book so many years ago and although I remember loving it, I'm not sure I fully appreciated how incredibly well-crafted and insightful Fitzgerald's sentences really were. Isn't it nice to revisit a beloved book at different points in your life and to see how your perceptions change?

Here's a particular passage, Nick's description of his first meeting of Gatsby, that I kept rereading...

"He smiled understandingly--much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in your life. It faced--or seemed to face--the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey."

Monday, March 23, 2009

Les jolie-laides

The french refer to someone as "jolie-laide" if they are an unconventional beauty. The literal translation of the phrase is "pretty-ugly." I think the women I find the most lovely/interesting/compelling fall into this category. Here are two of my favorite style icons--sisters Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon. They share the same mum, Jane Birkin, who was arguably more beautiful at their age, but I don't think it's slowing these two down at all.




Let Go of Your Darlings

Walking up the crisp grass hill
Skinny trees and branches
Tree that you debated climbing
Brown grass, brown deer, slate sky.

Friday, March 20, 2009

The Light By Which He Traveled By

http://www.tetsugohyakutake.com/
This photographer's work centers around industrial sites in Japan and Philadelphia (he's been a resident of both). Here's a taste of his work, but it doesn't do him justice. If you are in Philly, you can check out his work at Gallery 339. Panoramic industrial still-lifes that are really quite breathtaking, particularly when seen in large scale. Check out his website above!



Thursday, March 19, 2009

We Got Stuck In A Cloud, So We Climbed Our Way Down

This is a photo of my parents (and their parents) on their wedding day. It's one of my favorite photos because everyone is together. They've all been gone for almost 20 years now, except my dad. My dad sorta looked like Peter Sellers back then with that moustache, which cracks me up. I think I look a little like my mom in the photo (or is it vice-versa).

I put this photo right on my mirror where I get ready in the morning so I can see their smiling faces every day. It's sort of like one of Harry Potter's photos! I imagine them all waving to me.
And this is my new bike. SIKE! I do want a new bike though. I want a beach cruiser cause my legs are so long I hate being hunched over on my Schwinn. Anyone have suggestions on where to get one? I guess it's time to scour the suburban thrift shops. I know my dad had like an old blue Peugeot or something in our beach house garage, but I'm not sure if it's still there. That thing was boss.
PS I hope I can eventually replace these terrible blurry scans that made everyone look weird! I scanned them on some piece of junk at work.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

If I Can't Have This Puppy I Don't Want to Live


Sent to me by my friend Jill with that very subject line. Meet Douglas from Daily Puppy! He is pure love.

Monday, March 16, 2009

The Rachel Papers



I saw this artist's work at Chapterhouse Cafe on 9th and Bainbridge. The cafe not only hosts two of the most adorable dogs in the world (including a French Bulldog who endearingly reclines with her tongue sticking out), but it also shows the work of local artists.

Featured this month are the oil on wood paintings of Rachel Reinfurt. They are really very lovely. The textures of the wood really highlight her subject matter. Check out her site here: http://www.rachelreinfurt.com/.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Friday, March 13, 2009

Hot Hot Heat

Yes! My awesome friend gave me this awesome shirt knowing how much I love rooster sauce! When I was sick I had pho almost every day and loaded so much of this in the broth that I would cough and cry at the table.  

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

There is a house in...

Here are some NOLA photos I'd like to share with you! In the first photo, you'll see the top of the porch's underside has been painted sky blue. Apparently wasps think the blue is the sky and it disuades them from building nests on the porches. Sort of poetic, no?
Below is the famous house of famous actor famous Nick Cage. I think he was the only celebrity whose house I took a photo of. Who knows why?
There were beautiful flowers blooming everywhere!
One thing that really stands out architecturally, particularly in the French Quarter, is the ornate iron work framing the houses. Generally the more ornate work is cast iron, and the plainer, but more durable work is wrought iron.
The next two photos were the views from the courtyard of my favorite bar, The Napoleon House. So lovely and such yummy drinks. I am drinking a Ramos Gin Fizz (which they handily make at Southwark a block from my apartment in Philly!!!) It's lemon/lime juice, orange flower water, egg whites, cream, seltzer and gin. It's like a New York Egg Cream. YUM.
Some more pretty places in the city, below.

Stay tuned tomorrow for cemetary photos and other randomness...

This is how I roll...


I may look like a moron, but dang am I happy there! More to come later!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

In Which Olivia Travels to New Orleans Without Any Sunscreen...

Ow.

Hello everyone! Oy vey am I sore right now. But nonetheless so content! I had the greatest weekend in New Orleans. I can't wait to share some photos. Until then, I would like to urge you that should the spirit move you, and you have a little extra money saved, get thee to New Orleans! Just a couple of days and I feel like a new person. Food, music, history... the infectious spirit of the city is incredible. I have never met so many kind people in all my life. They are so appreciative of guests to the city and are so eager to share their favorite recommendations. More to come later. Right now I'm headed for the sleep of the dead...

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

somewhere i have never traveled, gladly beyond

Saw these cool photos on a cool blog that got these photos off a cool blog, etc, etc. An abandoned amusement park--possibly in Japan because the original photos came from a Japanese site. (On a side note, I was obsessed with carousel horses as a kid. I remember driving to the Jersey shore every summer and passing an old rusted abandoned carousel...guess that's where it started. We used to pass so many intriguing sights/sites in rural NJ. The magazine "Weird NJ" is not for nothin. Someday I'm going to revisit all those old backroads we used to travel and go to every place I've always wanted to stop. Maybe even make it a blog post...Pine Tavern motel anyone?)


Monday, March 2, 2009

The Winter of Our Content

Here's a special treat for everyone enjoying this snow day. Maybe you are home like me (oh happy day!) or maybe you are stuck at work, but not under as many watchful eyes as usual.

Anyways, above are screenshots from the coolest game ever called "Samorost." The animation is so beautiful. The game will drive you nuts, but once you figure things out you will feel like a smarty. I can't really give more info than that. Just click around and figure out what to do. Here is the link for Samorost 1, but I think I played Samorost 2 first (you can find that link at the top of the page when you find the link).
http://amanita-design.net/samorost-1/
Some things you will figure out quickly, but other tasks take forever! Write me if you get stuck and crazy. I will give you encouraging words (and maybe a hint).