WAAAHOOO, Thelma & Louise!

Until tonight, I hadn't watched the movie, Thelma & Louise, since it was new to VHS. I downloaded it and watched it on my computer here, when toward the end of the movie, I started recognizing some of the geography. I travel by road a lot, probably up and down and across most states in the lower 48. It was around the last few minutes of the movie that I just KNEW, and had to dig up a photo my dad took of me last October when we took a last-second vacation down to Moab, Utah. We spent an entire day driving through Canyonlands National Park so I could take some photos, since it's not a very well-visited park, seeing as how Arches Nat'l Park is across the main highway into town.

I found the photo (below) and compared it to a screen shot of a scene in the movie...and voila! I was SO THERE!

(click on image for larger view)

At the end when they're about to drive off the cliff, "Louise" mentions that she thinks they're at the Grand Canyon, and a shot of a deputy's arm patch says Arizona, but this location was actually in Utah at a much prettier location than the Grand Canyon, IMO. Gotta give props to the location scouter.


(click on image for larger view)

I can't wait to go back again and spend more time there. I felt such peace, and a connection to the stunning, grand vistas. Fittingly, it was also a beautiful end in the movie. Long live Thelma and Louise!!!!

Grocery Produce? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Grocery Produce!

I've never been a big fan of vegetables, no matter how much my mom instilled their importance throughout my youth, but one can't help oogling at a masterpiece like a well-designed urban garden....so I went into a neighbor's backyard (with permission, of course) and took some video.




I don't know about you, but I'm inspired. And now I want chickens!!

Bifold Love

So I was lurking around the world wide web for regional small businesses that are unique and fun, and I came across dbclay. It's a Portland-based manufacturer of one-of-a-kind printed wallets. Literally hundreds of wallets to browse on their site, and once you buy it, you'll have the only one like it around.



This is just a small screen shot of their endless designs. Tell me this isn't kinda' cool.

P.S. Yes, db clay, I will accept an uber cool wallet from you as payment of your gratitude for my shameless plug of your product :-)

Good Things Come In Small Packages

Lookie at what the UPS Fairy just brought me!




*squeals a little*

Human-Powered COOLness

My friend, Rebecca, posted this link on Facebook today, and I liked it so much that I couldn't wait to pass it on! It is seriously the coolest thing I've seen and heard in ages. Perpetuum Jazzile is an a cappella jazz choir from Slovenia.

After the first video, I'll include a few more fun and inspiring videos powered by humans :-)

*KER-SPLAT!*

And you wonder why I'm such a big fan of AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com??

Concert In The Mountains

I'm catching up on blogging here, and I've discovered how to create little videos put to music. I plan on learning more about it so they aren't so lame.

My friend, Rochelle, who works for the radio station that put together this shindig, informed me of a cool event coming up on Sunday, June 28th. For only $35., I could get a free bus ride from Eagle to Horseshoe Bend and back, a scenic train ride along the Payette River in the Thunder Mountain Line, alcoholic beverages for 94.9 cents, lunch and an acoustic concert by Serena Ryder at the old Banks,Idaho train depot.

Let me say it. WOW!

It was a cooker outside, but everyone involved had a great time. Again, special thanks to 94.9 The River/KRVB, the Boise Co-op and The Modern Hotel for sponsoring such a neat and affordable event! Check out my lil video below.

KRVB-FM 94.9 The River

Boise Co-Op

The Modern Hotel

Official Website: Serena Ryder

Myspace: Serena Ryder

Video Music by the OH so talented, Chris Bucheit

#July4th

It was a pretty low-key Independence Day for me. No BBQ, no pool party, no keg stands and no fireworks in the driveway.

I decided to take a short drive up to Table Rock in Boise. If you live here or have visited, you'd probably recognize it by its gigantic florescent Jesus cross. Fortunately for my legs and lungs, a security guard at the gate informed us that we could drive all the way up (which is COOL because that gate is never open anymore).

So, instead of battling the crowds at the old Boise Depot hill or in Ann Morrison Park, we got an AMAZING view of the city lights throughout the Treasure Valley, our fireworks as well as distant fireworks on the horizon AND we had perfect weather with no strong winds.

I put together a (bad) short video put to music. Tada!

DIY Pop-Up Camera Flash Diffuser

Sometimes I'm all about "DIY"...after all, it saves $$$, and most of us can agree that the legal tender is in short supply these days. So, thanks to Photojojo.com user natuurplaat, there's a simple and surprisingly effective way to soften the normally harsh effects of a photo taken with a pop-up flash on many consumer SLR's and what I call "wannabe SLR's."

Note: Go to your local Walgreens, Walmart, Fred Meyer, Kroger or any store that has a photo processing dept. You can usually get the translucent film canisters free. They want to get rid of them anyway.

Another Note: Don't try this on a Canon 40D. I tried and I was disappointed that the pop-up flash is too wide for the canister *pouty face*

THE INGREDIENTS LIST:

* Camera with a pop-up flash
* White film container
* Ruler (or whatever)
* X-acto knife (regular scissors work fine, too, I found)

Step 1: Measure your flash



Measure the width of your flash so you’ll know how wide to make the cut in your film container.

Step 2: Cut the film container



Using a sharp blade, carefully cut a notch in the side of the film container (take the lid off first). Make the notch just slightly wider than the depth of the flash. Click on the photo to see the finished result.

Step 3: Slide it on



Slide the film container onto your flash, and put the lid on to hold it in place. If the fit is too snug, make the cut a little wider. If it’s too loose, a little tape should keep it on.

Step 4: Go take pictures!



Take photos as you would normally. The film container will diffuse our flash’s harsh light. Your camera should automatically adjust exposure to make up for the reduced light output.

You’ll be everyone’s favorite photographer once they see how good you make them look!

Before: Shiny & Pasty



Harsh flash washes out skin and highlights flaws. Seriously, you can see stains on somebody’s soul with that thing.

After: Lovely & Pleasant

Photo/Content Source: Photojojo.com

The End of An Era: So Long, Farrah and MJ...

On the 25th, we all received word that the legendary Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died...Farrah from her long battle with cancer and MJ from cardiac arrest, possibly from medications administered to him by his personal physician. Just a couple of days prior, on June 23rd, Ed "Heeeeeere's Johnny!" McMahon also died at the age of 86. The news of Michael's death spurred a fury of online searches causing a virtual web traffic jam. Our Charlie's Angel and our King of Pop are now gone, may they finally rest without pain and paparazzi.

Yesterday, as I was on the way back from a fun event...I was called and told that the iconic pitchman for so many of our "as seen on TV" miracle products, Billy Mays, had died the day after a hard US Airways landing. I was able to catch his most recent episode of "Pitchmen" which I found to be funny and enlightening to the true gentle nature of this loud and seemingly annoying personality on tv. He was anything but. He was the father to a 20-something step-son and a 3 year old daughter that adored him as much as he did her.

This is not to say that I feel more sorrow for celebrity deaths as I do for those closer to me, as this isn't the case at all. They are simply shocking losses of people very much in the public eye, especially as I was growing up (except for Billy Mays). I feel so sad for their family and dear friends, and it brings many things into perspective for me. What will it be like when I lose someone close to me, now that I am an adult and can truly understand the reality, impact and emotions behind it? I don't look forward to that day.

P.S. if you Twitter, you probably encountered some serious Fail Whale.