Nate and I just returned from a 10 day journey to Colorado and back via car-trip. I love car-trips. Traveling off interstate highways, finding cool little shops, restaurants, people you would never otherwise meet. Seeing the land pass by and wondering how it's changed in the last few hundred, even thousand years. Listening to music. Talking about past trips and future ones as well. As a couple who hasn't been together quite a year (9 months or so), spending 24 hours a day together with no personal space whatsoever, a long car-trip can be quite a test. Meeting his brother, Zhavanya and his nephew Zaydn was incredible. They are an amazing family and I look forward to calling them family, they already feel as such.
I feel so lucky to have been blessed in life with these people.
The collaboration of Nataly Dawn and Jack Conte, two musicians out of Palo Alto, California. I'm in love. They post video songs on YouTube, and their personal music as well as the music of Pomplamoose is available on iTunes or either of their MySpace pages. A high recommendation.
Item 2. Books!
I am currently working on self publishing two books. One is a collaborative effort with my friend Jerred Kincaid. Showcasing his tattoo work and my photography. I'm hoping this project will be done by the end of 2009 but there are a lot of people to wrangle and we're now at the disadvantage of no longer having a studio to shoot pictures. If anyone in the Twin Cities area doesn't mind being intruded upon, we're looking for a large kitchen. His MySpace and My Outtakes. The second is a personal compilation of my favorite photographs. More of a portfolio type work. Should be done by the end of the summer/early fall 2009. Possibly to include:
If you'd like to give me input on what pictures I should include, I'd love the feedback! I will be including some of my work off of flickr (although a lot will be photos I haven't publicly shared) so bop on over to my Flickr Account and leave me a note. Both books will be available for purchase online.
Item 3. Website!
I am breaking down at last. I'm building a website. Well, "building" a website. For my art. I have a company called OtherPeoplesPixels which caters to people like me who are technologically inept and who are completely broke. I'll be able to corral all my random websites together, have a decent amount of work in the portfolio area, sell my art online, arrange for shows, post my resume, etc etc... Be all professional. Eek. I'm being painfully slow when it comes to actually doing this. More updates later. Oh! And if you'd like to help put any of this together, I'll bake you cookies. I just really suck at this stuff, but not baking cookies.
Item 4. Shows!
I currently have two upcoming shows booked for 2009, both in Winona, Minnesota. The first is in August at the Acoustic Cafe and the second is in September at Ed's (No Name) Bar. Directions are available at each respective website. Both spaces are lovely, I've shown at each before. If anyone is interested in driving from Saint Paul/Minneapolis with me during the first and the last of each month to set up/tear down the help would be appreciated. I'll buy you a drink afterwards at Ed's, who is a wonderful man and has incredible taste in beer. Just saying.
So anyone who has known me for a decent amount of time knows how I feel about the holiday season. I'm not one to decorate my house or apartment with dead trees and lights and jolly fat men. I try not to buy into the greed of consumerism Christmas. I don't care if the economy is slumping and we need to BUY BUY BUY to make the world go round.
SO. Instead of buying into the commercial bullshit, I'm going a different route. This year I am giving my time to my loved ones. In a way.
I'm offering my friends and family baked goods, paintings and photographs. Want a spice cake for Christmas? Gingerbread cookies? Ok. Really like one of the pictures I've taken? I'll frame it and send it to you. Always wanted a zombie doll head for your living room decor? I got your back.
If you live outside of driving distance, I'll mail it to you, within reason. (sorry guys, I can't really mail pie.)
I have a bunch of photographs on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/leahdegarmo/ If you want a particular picture, I'll do my best to create it for you. Same with paintings. if you know I have something that you like, let me know. Or ask and I'll let you know if it's within my abilities. Baked stuff, I'd be happy fix you what you like :) I'm pretty good at most things.
If you would like something, please let me know! I want my loved ones to know that I care about them and that they are worth my time. If I'm going to need to mail you something, please email me your address at ldegarmo@gmail.com
I urge everyone to let the people important in their lives know. They may already know you care, but it's always nice to get a reminder, especially this time of year when everyone seems to get caught up in the holiday hubbub.
Whenever I'm in a foul mood or just need to get out of the house, I go thrifting. It's something I feel completely comfortable doing by myself. I don't have to buy anything, but I usually find something I can't resist. Because really, who can't find something they like while in a thrift store?
I had today off of work, and like always, none of my friends would commit to doing anything. I'm not sure what it is lately, but all my relationships, friendship and otherwise, have been lacking. I have several friends that live in the Twin Cities area... and I haven't seen most of them since I've moved up here. Others who live outside of the metro, it's more understandable, but even when they're in town for say, a concert, I hear nothing until after the fact. It's frustrating to call someone I consider a friend, and never receive a returned phone call or any acknowledgment that I've tried to contact them. Someone I long considered a very close friend, refuses to talk to me for some reason. He has barely spoken to me since his wedding. I understand people get busy with life, but does that really mean continually ignoring your friends? I lack understanding of that. No matter how busy and stressed out I get, I try to check in and keep in contact with my friends. They're important to me. The only people I see on a regular basis are Bri, Michelle and Nate. I've come to realize I don't really have very many friends I can depend on anymore. Which is sad.
So, I went thrifting by my lonesome today. Bought a few movies, a few amazing cameras, some stuff for an art project, a Batman tie, a mannequin head, a gas mask, and a belt. Pictures of the cameras are on flickr. Also: self portraits.
My take. Did a trial run today. Need to figure out hair and make up and find some gaudy jewelry. Last minute type costume from one of my favorite books/movies.
Have seen these guys 5 times since April. And I'll do it again next tour. Tim Fite was also amazing... will definitely hit up more of his shows when he circles around. Very nice man, humble. I still can't really believe this weekend happened. Maybe I'll edit this post when I can wrap my brain around all of it. I'm still tired... roughly 850 miles in 3 and 1/2 days. And we cut out the Iowa City show.
I miss this. Winona at it's best. My boys. Joe lives 20 minutes away and we hardly ever talk, even though I call on a semi-regular basis. He's grown up. Mr. Teacher, Mr. Husband. Busy man.
With Mike there's been so many ups and downs, we stopped talking for quite a while after he left Winona. Now we're, us... for lack of a better term. He lives well over 20o miles away and we talk every couple of days, see each other roughly once a month.
I miss my two boys together. Get Mike and Joe together and it's like mixing root beer with ice cream, pizza and beer, bacon and eggs. Delicious and amazing.
Banksy strikes New York, making fun of people's obsessive nature over their food and their pets. He opened a lovely little "pet store" in the West Village, open through Halloween. Images and video taken from www.woostercollective.com
