finding inspiration in the ordinary

I'm going to come right on out and say it-  I.love.the.interwebs.

Also what I love: people's creativity.


Having a bit of extra time on my hands these last few weeks I have been enjoying the exploration of each of these. One of my favorite finds comes from Todd McLellan and his deconstructed series. Here is his deconstructed typewriter:

I love the idea of taking ordinary objects and looking at them in a new way.  Seeing this little guy's insides neatly displayed is inspiring and also makes me love my little typewriter even more as I see all the pieces that come together to make such a wonderful contraption. It's worth a click to go look through his other work, and also a video of his deconstruction in action.

Todd isn't the only one that's finding clever uses for the retro machine. Check out this typewriter illustration.

I saved this picture, but neglected to bookmark or take note of the artist, so forgive my lack of citation. However, in my search to correct my blunder, I came across a man who used the same medium for his work. Paul Smith passed away a few years ago, but was a self taught artist with cerebral palsy. At first glance, or even an in-depth inspection, I doubt anyone would be able to guess his pieces were made with a typewriter.

You can watch a short clip of his process here, which is remarkable.

I watched a documentary (okay, I've been watching a LOT of documentaries... but that's beside the point) where the director-artist-skateboarder and generally awesome Mike Mills shared several inspiring thoughts on creating. Two of these quotes I found particularly wise which warrant sharing here:

"Be good with doing what you do. With art you can make what you can't do."  

"Are you healthy? Are you breathing? Then get started."

There is plenty I cannot do, and healthy and breathing I am.  So, here I go.

the solution to all of my problems

Yes, I'm learning.
Now, point over there!

enter: unemployment. Where I whine, panic, and eventually calm the crap down.

Today marks the fourth day I've spent as a non-server after one thousand, six hundred, and two days of being employed as a bow-tie donning, shoulder pad wearing, waitstaff.

I'll admit the first two days were spent throwing myself a bit of a pity party. Waves of panic would come and go along with visions of my inevitable destitution. I could see my future unfolding; being so hungry and desperate for even a few spare coins, I would take to the streets where I would perform tricks with Ziggy, in hopes of buying a block of ramen. Ziggy would of course be forced to dress in an embarrassing outfit, which would completely destroy any self-worth that poor dog has left, until he could no longer take it and my K-9 companion-- my meal ticket!-- would pack up a puppy knapsack and leave me behind as he joined a traveling pack of Sharpei Magicians (spoiler: they hide things in their folds!) where sure, there's a little less dignity, but at least he'd get to eat. And I would be left with nothing to offer him to convince him to stay. I consoled myself by watching Katharine Hepburn films (some of them twice), and eating my feelings through a box of hostess snack cakes* Ben was thoughtful enough to buy me while I begged Ziggy not to even think of leaving, no matter how hungry he became. I'd find a way to feed him! If only he'd stay!

Luckily, I am resilient! And also have the most supportive friends and family a gal could ask for who are assisting in my acceptance that this is, in fact, a wonderful thing. I'm looking forward to being the NW representative for Jiggystick Lip Balm and am excited to be working with my father, even if it is out of state. Already my productivity has impressed me; novels have been read, jobs have been looked into, finances have been reevaluated, budgets put in place, projects are being completed, and school works are getting studied. I have high hopes for myself of turning something I was initially distraught about into something positive, and feel like I'm making pretty good progress. So throw it at me life. I'm ready. 

*Hostess snack cakes don't make up the usual sweet treat fare around this household, but recently I came across the recipe page at hostess, (Don't ask. Really.) which is amazing. I browsed (for hours) through all the concoctions, most of which call for at least one container of *thawed* whipped topping (a sure sign of something delicious *gag*). While Ben looked on in horror I imagined all of the families whose Fourth of July tradition is the Patriotic Twinkie Pie ("but mom! I had to shell all of the twinkies last year! No fair!"). All I know is that the day I show up to a party and find this awaiting me, is the day I will be a truly happy girl. I highly suggest you take a gander at some of these gourmet suggestions. And please, oh please, take them to a party and tell me all about it. One would think such a spectacle would not cause a craving of processed fake foods, but not for this one here. No, It's all I've been able to think about since. No pie, or cookie, would be a proper substitution. Which is another reason I know Ben likes me. He'll buy me horrible foods.
And that is the story of why I binged on Ding Dongs.