Fabulous Friday - Bookworm Edition

I've been thinking a lot about books lately, and have decided to give myself a bit of a challenge.  I used to read a book each week in the past (ridiculous, but true - I'm a fast reader), but since I got my iPhone (the ultimate time-suck), I've neglected my reading habit.  What has happened is my to-read pile has grown...a great deal. This is my current to-read list, and I will do my best to update this blog after each completed read.

The challenge: read these books before purchasing ANY NEW ONES.

The current list:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky (this is first on my list because Hermione Granger will be starring in the film version, out later this year - I will also be forcing my 12 year old niece to read it)

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith (film out this summer, and I met this author at school - he signed my copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, nice guy)

One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (many years on this list)

A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness (for a good cry, so I hear)

Poems, Ballads - Rudyard Kipling (found a lovely oriental edition of this at a swap meet and couldn't pass it up)

My Mother, She Killed Me, My Father He Ate me - Short stories collection edited by Kate Bernheimer (my last purchase at Borders before they went out of business)

On the Road (the original scroll) - Jack Kerouac (there are no paragraph beginnings or endings in this one, so I will save it for last due to its difficulty factor)


CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

-M.

Oscar Sunday

I know I'm pushing it on time here, but just before the show begins, I want to share my picks for the gold:

Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain
Best Actress:Meryl Streep
Best Actor: Gary Oldman
Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
Original Score: Hugo
Make Up, Art Direction, and Visual Effects: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 (Here's hoping!)
Original Song: Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Choncords!!!)
Best Picture: Hugo

Let's see how well I do.  Enjoy the show!

Remedios Varo

Saturday afternoon was spent at LACMA (what has now become my home away from home) with my cousin and my nieces.  We went to visit the In Wonderland exhibit: women Surrealists from America and Mexico. 

DO NOT MISS THIS EXHIBIT! http://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/in-wonderland

Frida Kahlo: The Two Fridas

This painting had a surprising effect on me (and I later found out on my cousin as well).  I don't know if it was the large size of the painting (4'x8') or the beauty of it in person, but I was overwhelmed with awe and I will admit, I got a bit choked up.  I felt so proud, both of Frida for having accomplished such a wonderful painting during the oppressive time in which she lived, and also for her ability to wholeheartedly expose herself in her art.  There are several of Frida's pieces on display, but this one is exceptionally special.

I dare you to stand in front of it and not feel it tug at your heartstrings.  I double-dog dare you.

***

The exhibit also includes pieces by Remedios Varo, my new favorite artist:

Creation of the Birds

Mimesis

Antique Row

As a spur-of-the-moment decision, we spent Saturday afternoon in Pomona.  I did more shooting than shopping, which turned out to be a wonderful thing.  We got caught in the rain and decided to skip the Pomona Art Walk and instead came home and watched Twin Peaks. It was a great day.
-M.

Sandy Skoglund

This is her awesome website

Revenge of the Goldfish

A Breeze at Work

Gathering Paradise

Radioactive Cats

Radioactive Cats

...and my favorite: Fox Games

Car Show

As much as I hate going to car shows, I do my best to find things of interest to me.  I always take my sunblock, my parasol, and my patience - lots and lots of patience.  This past weekend the weather was warmer than I prefer, but the crowd was nice...and so was the ice cream.  The photos here represent the way I see every car show I (am forced to) attend.  As you can see, I am not into cars, but I am really, really into distractions.
-M.

Pan Dulce! Now you KNOW I took one of these home!

Taken with Instagram

Taken with Instagram

Now, I don't see cars here - I see faces:

Bug Face

Braces Face

Whale Face

Shark Face

The Haunting of Ian Curtis

I don't often dream, unfortunately, but when I do, I try my best to remember what was going on in my subconscious as soon as I wake.  For the last two nights, I have been dancing with Ian Curtis.  The first night we were embraced and dancing slowly to "Heart and Soul".  The second night, we were mirroring each others epileptic dances, or rather, I was doing my best impersonation of Ian - again, to "Heart and Soul".  So here you go, and may your dreams be filled with Ian as well.
-M.