this is my last day in shreveport, louisiana. i'll be leaving early in the morning. a lot of my out-of-town co-workers weren't very fond of this town. i'll admit that i don't think i want to grow roots here, but it's not that awful.
okay. the foul stench that permeates the air on some mornings is pretty hard to bear. a downtown full of casinos is kind of sad. fields are turning into parking lots by the minute, typical characteristic of any growing cities nowadays.
but there are some bright spots. the newest hotel being built, the hilton, is going to be the first major hotel in the city that doesn't have a casino. also, i've recently discovered the robinson film center that is in the works to expand. dallas and fort worth is only 3 hours away, a manageable day trip, for my art museum cravings. there's my staple breakfast joint, straun's, as well, breakfast being my favorite meal of the day.
i don't think i'll miss this place necessarily, but i'm not bolting out of here. i am eager to visit my mom and then head back to new york. i wonder how i'll readjust to new york, being so compacted and never silent. i really enjoyed hearing birds in the mornings and crickets at night here. also, i'll really miss straun's. i have yet to find a favorite breakfast place in new york. i guess i'll have to work on that when i get back.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
fort worth
i made a trip to fort worth on saturday. most of the day was spent at the kimball art museum and the modern art museum, the two buildings being right across the street from one another. the kimball had an exhibit of portraits over the course of the 20th century. what caught my attention the most was the relationship between money and expression. a good portion of the portraits consisted of the artists' patrons or their families. it's the irony of artists who we generally think of as poor, the poor starving artist, but they have ties to the wealthy. in fact, their lifelihood and the sustaining power of their works are dependent upon the upper class. something to think about.
at the modern art museum, i saw an exhibit called "pretty baby," artworks the dealt with childhood. i didn't realize that yoshitomo nara's work would be part of the exhibit although it was an obvious inclusion. i have only seen one of his works in person: a fiberglass sculpture of a black dog at lacma. at this exhibit, i saw several of nara's paintings, one sculpture piece, and 2 drawings. i was excited to see a piece that was relatively new: the thinker, a little girl with chestnut brown hair and short bangs, wearing an orangey shirt with splotches across the collar, her eyes closed with 5 eyelashes on each eye lid. she was so cute. an artist that i wasn't familiar with whose work jumped out at me was makiko kudo. her paintings also focus on girls but just on the brink of adolescence. one memorable piece consists of two girls in their school uniforms, painted in magenta pink, lying in a green field, sharing their contemplations about life, surrounded by penguins. kudo's works are at once surreal in their situations and concrete in their emotions.
the ron mueck exhibit that i saw in brooklyn has made its way to fort worth. it was so much nicer to see it in fort worth; i didn't have to elbow through throngs of patrons to catch a 2-second glimpse of his work. his sculptures are amazing. they are so lifelike except for their size - either too big or too small - and they're frozen in a moment that entices you to not only look at them but to actually watch them, as if in anticipation that they're going to do something.
overall, the museums were small, and their permanent collections were not exactly outstanding. the architecture, however, was pretty impressive. both had wall fountains that calmed the surrounds and gave off a sense of coolness in the texan heat. the restaurant at the modern art museum has a great view of a manmade pond that hugs the glass section of the building. the interior, however, was not as well designed. i was confused as to how i was supposed to go through the exhibits. some spaces seemed to have been created to display pieces because there was just space. some of the displays didn't even have anything to do with exhibit that occupied that section of the floor.
after the museums, i drove around the town, through downtown and the stockyards. i stopped in dallas at oishii, a sushi/vietnamese restaurant, for dinner before making my way back to shreveport. it was a fulfilling day of good art and good food.
at the modern art museum, i saw an exhibit called "pretty baby," artworks the dealt with childhood. i didn't realize that yoshitomo nara's work would be part of the exhibit although it was an obvious inclusion. i have only seen one of his works in person: a fiberglass sculpture of a black dog at lacma. at this exhibit, i saw several of nara's paintings, one sculpture piece, and 2 drawings. i was excited to see a piece that was relatively new: the thinker, a little girl with chestnut brown hair and short bangs, wearing an orangey shirt with splotches across the collar, her eyes closed with 5 eyelashes on each eye lid. she was so cute. an artist that i wasn't familiar with whose work jumped out at me was makiko kudo. her paintings also focus on girls but just on the brink of adolescence. one memorable piece consists of two girls in their school uniforms, painted in magenta pink, lying in a green field, sharing their contemplations about life, surrounded by penguins. kudo's works are at once surreal in their situations and concrete in their emotions.
the ron mueck exhibit that i saw in brooklyn has made its way to fort worth. it was so much nicer to see it in fort worth; i didn't have to elbow through throngs of patrons to catch a 2-second glimpse of his work. his sculptures are amazing. they are so lifelike except for their size - either too big or too small - and they're frozen in a moment that entices you to not only look at them but to actually watch them, as if in anticipation that they're going to do something.
overall, the museums were small, and their permanent collections were not exactly outstanding. the architecture, however, was pretty impressive. both had wall fountains that calmed the surrounds and gave off a sense of coolness in the texan heat. the restaurant at the modern art museum has a great view of a manmade pond that hugs the glass section of the building. the interior, however, was not as well designed. i was confused as to how i was supposed to go through the exhibits. some spaces seemed to have been created to display pieces because there was just space. some of the displays didn't even have anything to do with exhibit that occupied that section of the floor.
after the museums, i drove around the town, through downtown and the stockyards. i stopped in dallas at oishii, a sushi/vietnamese restaurant, for dinner before making my way back to shreveport. it was a fulfilling day of good art and good food.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
missing birds
this nytimes article about birds disappearing almost made me cry. it makes me sad every time i learn something that affirms what i told my math teacher in the 8th grade: the purpose of human beings is to destroy the planet.
just because we're finding ways to live a sustainable life doesn't mean that we aren't continuing to hurt the biodiversity that exists on this planet. yes, for one species to survive, other species must be injured or even killed. everything we eat comes from a living thing, animal or plant. but even when buildings are designed to use dramatically less electricity and built with "eco-friendly" materials, we can't forget that we're still taking over another species living space. the planet is only so big, ocean and land, and we're taking over more and more of it.
hong kong plowed hills flat and dumped the earth into the ocean to create more land, a practice called land reclamation. residential skyscrapers are built on these pieces of land. i doubt that hong kong is the only place that creates land in this manner. not only did we destroy a piece of land that was inhabited by other living creatures, but we also took over a piece of the ocean. maybe i'm being too dramatic in saying that it's a tiny baby step in our take-over of the ocean.
also, new houses built in this country are getting bigger and bigger. all those hollywood stars who bought priuses in the rush to the newest fad--to be environmentally conscious--live in giant houses that take over a huge plot of land and use an immense amount of materials for its infrastructure. oh, and the furniture. i wonder if the same prius drivers also own furniture made from exotic materials ripped from the rain forests.
yes, doing one thing is a start, but it's more of a matter of adjusting your entire lifestyle to cause the least amount of damage to the rest of the species on this planet. we need it for our own survival. what will we eat if we kill off and force out the rest of the living organisms?
just because we're finding ways to live a sustainable life doesn't mean that we aren't continuing to hurt the biodiversity that exists on this planet. yes, for one species to survive, other species must be injured or even killed. everything we eat comes from a living thing, animal or plant. but even when buildings are designed to use dramatically less electricity and built with "eco-friendly" materials, we can't forget that we're still taking over another species living space. the planet is only so big, ocean and land, and we're taking over more and more of it.
hong kong plowed hills flat and dumped the earth into the ocean to create more land, a practice called land reclamation. residential skyscrapers are built on these pieces of land. i doubt that hong kong is the only place that creates land in this manner. not only did we destroy a piece of land that was inhabited by other living creatures, but we also took over a piece of the ocean. maybe i'm being too dramatic in saying that it's a tiny baby step in our take-over of the ocean.
also, new houses built in this country are getting bigger and bigger. all those hollywood stars who bought priuses in the rush to the newest fad--to be environmentally conscious--live in giant houses that take over a huge plot of land and use an immense amount of materials for its infrastructure. oh, and the furniture. i wonder if the same prius drivers also own furniture made from exotic materials ripped from the rain forests.
yes, doing one thing is a start, but it's more of a matter of adjusting your entire lifestyle to cause the least amount of damage to the rest of the species on this planet. we need it for our own survival. what will we eat if we kill off and force out the rest of the living organisms?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
creepy guys
i'm the only person left on my end of the office, and anyone who enters and exits the suite has to walk past me. a guy came in today, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. i said hello, and instead of introducing himself as one should when entering someone else's space, he took a look at me and said, "you're cute." no "hello." just "you're cute."
after a couple of questions, i found out that he merely wanted to know what information he could use as a reference to look for a new job. i work in an industry where pretty much everyone freelances so you're always looking for the next gig. the parent company dissolves the subsidiary companies which we work for once the project is completed, probably for liability reasons. what he wanted to know was totally legitimate, especially for someone who has never worked in this field. i was just surprised by the first thing that came out of his mouth.
i don't think he meant to be creepy, but i wonder if he realized how creepy he came across. i wonder if i'm only reacting this way because i've been living in pretty urban places. would a southern country girl have also taken his comment as creepy or just as a compliment? also, are guys really that dense that they don't know they might seem creepy in situations such as this? after all, today's incident took place in an office. at the very least, what he said was not professional. good luck to him getting his next job.
after a couple of questions, i found out that he merely wanted to know what information he could use as a reference to look for a new job. i work in an industry where pretty much everyone freelances so you're always looking for the next gig. the parent company dissolves the subsidiary companies which we work for once the project is completed, probably for liability reasons. what he wanted to know was totally legitimate, especially for someone who has never worked in this field. i was just surprised by the first thing that came out of his mouth.
i don't think he meant to be creepy, but i wonder if he realized how creepy he came across. i wonder if i'm only reacting this way because i've been living in pretty urban places. would a southern country girl have also taken his comment as creepy or just as a compliment? also, are guys really that dense that they don't know they might seem creepy in situations such as this? after all, today's incident took place in an office. at the very least, what he said was not professional. good luck to him getting his next job.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
drag show
last night, i went to my first drag show. it was fun but a little disappointing. i expected it to be more talent-based. the show we went to featured each of the drag queen lip-syncing to a song, some contemporary, some classic. some of the audience, mostly drunk, went to the stage to tip each drag queen; it cheapened the show. i'd much prefer a place where they would charge an entry fee and the drag queens actually sang. one of the drag queens stood out as an exceptional lip-syncer. not only did she stick to her performance when she accepted tips and mouthed 'thank you' to each of the tippers (there were some who kind of let their performance lag when they took tips), she had the best make-up and costumes.
nonetheless, i was impressed with all the dancing that was attempted on 4-inch heels. needless to say, i was shamed that as an actual woman, i wouldn't even be able to walk in a straight line wearing the shoes they wore.
so the next drag show i attend must have real singing in addition to the dancing on super-high heels.
nonetheless, i was impressed with all the dancing that was attempted on 4-inch heels. needless to say, i was shamed that as an actual woman, i wouldn't even be able to walk in a straight line wearing the shoes they wore.
so the next drag show i attend must have real singing in addition to the dancing on super-high heels.
Friday, June 15, 2007
summer is back on!
maybe not the whole season, but as of now, i have a week of it. i had a flight to fly back to new york tomorrow at seven AM. at around two o'clock this afternoon, i got a call that the ct gig has been pushed. my start date wouldn't be until july 9. so i'm staying in shreveport to properly finish my current job, as originally planned. at the end of the month, i'll fly to visit my mom in north carolina. i'll be able to spend that whole first week of july with her.
if only this had been the original plan, it would have worked out perfectly and much less stress rearranging travel. i'm exhausted from re-pulling everything back to its original shape. thank goodness i have the beach to look forward to.
if only this had been the original plan, it would have worked out perfectly and much less stress rearranging travel. i'm exhausted from re-pulling everything back to its original shape. thank goodness i have the beach to look forward to.
Monday, June 11, 2007
missing summer
having taken on another job immediately following this one, summer will escape me. i'm leaving shreveport, lousiana this weekend and heading up to stratford, connecticut for the next gig. before the ct job came about, i had planned to visit my mom in north carolina for the first week of july. she has the entire week off from work, and it would've been nice to be able to take her to our beloved hammock beach in swansboro for a day. the rest of the week would consist of doing not very much, the way a vacation should be.
now, i'll be working through the summer. as the temperature is creeping higher and higher every year, though, maybe i'm lucky to have missed the hottest season of the year. if the trend sticks, i'll be able to hit the beach when the job ends in september. the water will still be warm. it might be even not as riping hot. gotta take those jobs when i can though. work now, play later.
now, i'll be working through the summer. as the temperature is creeping higher and higher every year, though, maybe i'm lucky to have missed the hottest season of the year. if the trend sticks, i'll be able to hit the beach when the job ends in september. the water will still be warm. it might be even not as riping hot. gotta take those jobs when i can though. work now, play later.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
caffeine 2
the rain stopped. i ran out to a non-starbucks nearby and got a shot of expresso. my brain stopped aching within 10 minutes. i wonder if the caffeine coursed through my body that quickly or if it's all in my mind. but does it really matter if it's physical or psychological? the effect - agony to be followed by relief - is the same. maybe it's both. the ease in which i fall into an addiction is why i don't smoke or do drugs - a caffeine addiction is much more affordable. i'm also grateful that i'm allergic to alcohol.
caffeine
it's storming this afternoon. i haven't left the apartment yet. i had forgotten about coffee and don't have an ounce of caffeine in any form here. i don't care for sodas and i don't drink tea often enough to justify purchasing some for a merely 2-3 month stay. a slight headache is taking hold of me. but i'm going to stay strong and wait until the rain subsides. or maybe i should just brave the storm.
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