You're my shining star: Las Vegas' Neon Museum

One of the few things on my "must see" list was the Neon Museum (aka boneyard) in Las Vegas. I'll never forget stumbling across photos on Flickr several years ago that someone had taken at the boneyard (back before it was open to the public) and immediately falling in love. Needless to say, I was happier than a little kid at Disney once there.

It was everything I wanted and more--typography, rusted bling and a one-hour tour chock full of Vegas history. If any of those things appeal to you, escape from the strip and seek this museum out. I still get a giddy feeling thinking about the tour.

Rivers and parks of the west

I’m back. Actually, I’ve been back since Monday but was immediately buried in meetings and to-dos. I took photos (nothing fussy, just my iphone), shot video, wrote myself notes on stray pieces of paper, sent postcards and even recorded voice memos to friends back home, but how to process all of this? I'm going to cheat and pretty much copy an email I sent my coworkers when I got back. Given that we're enviro-river people, you'd better believe I started with rivers.

I saw the freaking Snake River (hint…look down)! Maybe this isn’t a big deal to everyone, but as someone who has heard about this river for the past 12 years, it was fairly epic. I may have come close to shedding a tear. Maybe. The photo below was taken outside of Twin Falls, Idaho, and the Snake met us here and there on the drive back through Oregon. There wasn’t a single time I saw it that I wasn’t blown away.



The epic list of rivers I finally got to meet doesn’t end there. I saw (not comprehensive and in no particular order) the Snoqualmie River, Yakima River, Columbia River, Snake River, Rogue River, LA River, South Umpqua River, Umpqua River, Willamette River, Calapooia River, Santiam River, Klamath River, Prairie Creek, Strawberry Creek, Russian River, Eel River, Mad River, and Soquel Creek. For years, I feel like I’ve had a special window into what we do on the west coast because one of the grant programs I manage, reading, scoring and offering advice to places I’d never seen. Each of these rivers represents a place we’ve worked (or considered working) and where what little we’ve been able to do has had an impact. The Eel River (below) was one of my favorites. Its blue-green water wove in and out of our path along the 101 through northern California, and I was lucky enough to get to see one of the removal projects we’ve been working on there for the last several years.



I drove through deserts and mountain ranges, traveling from the most barren climates through peaks where snow was still falling. I saw the following federal lands—Snoqualmie Pass, Snoqualmie National Forest, Umatilla National Forest, Great Basin National Park, Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Mojave National Preserve, Redwood National Park, and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest—and traveled the Pony Express, El Camino, and Oregon trails. 3,589 miles…give or take a few.





Also, lest you think it was all nature and work, I can also say that I played arcade games in Portland, had brunch with a guy who will be on the next season of America’s Next Top Model in LA, attended a proposal in Downtown Disney, and visited a neon sign boneyard outside of Vegas, but more on that later.

A travelin' fool: Seeing the U.S. state by state

I have so much to download from my trip out west and am trying to wrap my brain around how to describe everything I saw and experienced. It was phenomenal and different on so many varied levels. From the people I met (oh, LA) to the different environments I experienced, it all deserves its own time in the limelight.

While I take the time to process everything, I need to freak out a bit about the map above. You guys!!! Look how few states I have left to visit! I'm so lucky we were a family that struck out on big road trips (lightbulb...this shit runs in the family). Many of those southeastern states were seen from the back of a wood-paneled station wagon and a white minivan.

So...who wants to take me to Hawaii?

Epic west coast roadtrip

I'm traveling along the west coast this week (and next!) for a combination of work and play. There is an insane amount of documenting going on, including quick video segments. I'll share more later, but for now, here we are waiting in the rain to score some of Portland's famous Voodoo Donuts.

Sign Painters

A tiny portion of my pictures of signs. Some of my favorites are held hostage on Flickr, awaiting me to renew my pro account.

When I found out Sign Painters, a documentary on the art of the hand-painted sign by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon, was premiering at the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, I was over the moon. I've been stalking, er, following along since I saw Faythe first mention the project on Twitter. I can't say that I'm obsessed with good signage, but an interesting sign has always been able to lure me in. Judging from all the photos of hand-painted beauties littering my phone and Flickr account, it is safe to say I've had a thing for them for quite a while.

The film, itself, paid homage to the craft and passion of sign painting. After an intro chock full of sign porn, we traveled the country with the filmmakers and listened to stories from some of the greats. I was humbled by the stories of apprenticeship and years of dedication to learning their craft. Sometimes I find myself frustrated with not automatically knowing how to do certain things or not being considered an expert (shoots a wary look at the ukulele sitting unplayed in my corner). What a cocky bastard I am to think I should be good at something after giving it an hour or a week!

Another thing that really spoke to me was something mentioned during the q&a when Levine made reference to how important it was as a filmmaker and a researcher to be able to add quality content in a field where information is scarce. As a collector of information and stories, this really spoke to me. Like graffiti long abandoned under an overpass, Levine and Macon extend the legacy of some of these artists beyond faded traces left on that brick building you always pass walking home from work.

Seeing the film surrounded by portraits in the Renwick's Grand Salon was just the cherry on top.

Day in the Life, 03.30.13

7:00 AM Driven out of bed by a sore back. Grab a bottle of water and settle on the couch to read.

9:00 AM Meet workout buddy at the gym for some treadmill time. As much as I hate to admit it, I always feel better after leaving the gym.



10:00 AM Firm up my afternoon plans and grab a venti soy latte to fuel me.



1:38 PM Waiting to watch the premiere of Sign Painters (much anticipated by me and so good) at Renwick Gallery!



3:30 PM Checking out some of the pieces in the Craft Gallery.



5:00 PM Late lunch/early dinner at Sweetgreen in the Reston Town Center. I'm a huge fan of their earth bowl.

6:15 PM Picking up groceries and other supplies for the week. Five days until Seattle!

7:45 PM The portraits on display at Renwick were really cool. My favorite was a somewhat austere woman seated beside a gigantic gray cat. It inspired me to pick back up my wacky portrait project. Stopped by Michaels to refresh my paint supply.

8:21 PM Pajamas, water, couch.

lately

1. DryBar as part of continued birthday celebrations for Scarlet
2. Steven's concert
3. DC on my way to Maryland
4. Calm before the storm; empty classroom before a Johns Hopkins University presentation
5. Maryland Board of Public Works meeting during "snowquestration"

List: Endorsed, 2.26.13

I did something to my back at the gym last week (let's keep the old comments to a minimum), so I spent large chunks of the weekend hanging out on my couch, catching up on my favorite shows and reading. I can't recommend the following pieces enough. Many of them are long, and most of them are certainly weighty, providing fuel for some of my better rants. All are certainly worth the investing the time in.

The Education of Michelle Rhee - She's definitely one of my heroes.

Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us - A really eye-opening piece that just might make you sick.

Flight of the Hipsters

Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure

The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers: Mayim Bialik

Endorsed is inspired by the Slate Culture Gabfest (and the numerous other lists that circulate online).

On why I'm excited for the Oscars...

I can't help but be a little excited for the Oscars tomorrow. I'm not sure how much I'll actually watch. However, I made a concerted effort to see several of the noms in January, and they each impacted me in such a positive way that I can't help but be excited for them.

Of the films that made the cut, I've seen Argo, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, and Zero Dark Thirty. I really enjoyed Silver Linings and found Somebody That I Used to Know streaming in my subconscious as I watched Bradley Cooper portray someone with bipolar disorder. Still, it's been the other three movies that have stuck with me, leading to the most introspection.

I know others who have been bored by parts, but I sat riveted through each of these movies. I left with THOUGHTS and FEELINGS and plans to write nuanced pieces about each one. Well, life gets in the way, so I'm going to follow last week's rapid-fire book review format and tell you a bit about why I love each.

Argo - This movie really showcases Ben Affleck's talent in the director's chair. We all know how the story ends. They make it out, and yet, I was still a bundle of nerves waiting to see what could go wrong. He masters creating tension. Also notable are the outfits and two of my '90s obsessions, Victor Garber and Clea Duvall.

Zero Dark Thirty - I was skeptical of this movie going in. I was not someone who cheered in the streets when Osama was killed or yelled 'fuck yeah, America'. I understand why it had to happen, but I found/find the whole state of affairs we're in incredibly sad. This movie didn't change that. I don't even know where to begin. So much has been written about this movie, and I've tried to avoid most of it. Kathryn Bigelow does a phenomenal job at manipulating audience emotion and playing both arguments regarding torture against each other. I went through several stages of grief while I sat, glued to the chair. If this weren't a quickie review, I'd cram pages of thought in your face. In the end, I don't know if so many women or children were present when he died, but that also really got me. I couldn't help but leave thinking that the cycle will certainly continue.

Lincoln - This movie played to my love of history and rekindled some of my passion for politics (all three of these movies did). It's fun to watch political drama play out in hindsight rather than listen to the painful bloviations of today, wondering what dark road they'll take us down. Excellent acting, plenty of opportunities to laugh, and much respect for Lincoln's rhetoric.

Aren't you glad I didn't give you the long version? ;-)

A day at DC-area breweries

We celebrated Scarlet's birthday this weekend, and for the first time in a long time, I remembered to make an effort to snap lots of photos of the people around me. We all used to take hundreds of photos of ourselves at every event and outing, and over time, these photos evolved into pictures of signs, table settings, and what we've eaten. I created photo grids for a few of these same people for Valentine's Day and was reminded of how precious all of those (some would say self-indulgent) photos were. I got a huge kick looking back at older photos and reminiscing about the amazing times and the good life that I have. All of this thinking spurred some rampant picture snapping this weekend.

Speaking of, we spent some time at two of the DC area's breweries, DC Brau and Lost Rhino Brewing Company. Two vastly different experiences that probably speak to their respective locations (DC proper and Ashburn, VA). DC Brau was a madhouse! It's a relatively small space tucked away in NE DC, and it was filled with young DC. If I were the type to use the word hipster, I'd throw it out here. Once we got our initial bearings (insert momentary panic attack here) and figured out what was where, it was all good. The people were friendly, and the drink tickets were aplenty (and free). Minus the crowds, I loved the look and feel of this place. If you like beer and are looking for something free to do in DC, go here.

Lost Rhino was very, umm, northern Virginia. The crowds were decidedly more suburban and included a fair share of families with kids. While you'll pay for your drinks here, there's a bit more variety, and you have the option of ordering smaller sample sizes. They also have food for sale, which is a nice plus. As far as taste, everyone* seemed to enjoy the beer at Lost Rhino a little more than DC Brau.



*With the exception of this non-beer drinker.

Roots, or proof that chronic bitchface is hereditary

I'm obsessed with this photo my mom picked up from my great aunt this weekend. It's my grandma's side of the family circa 1864. My mom's been researching the family history, and I'm not sure she's aware how into it I am.

This is the McMillian clan, and evidently, they were proficient at childbearing (wasn't everybody?). The great grandma I knew briefly growing up is on the front row, second from the left. I spent quite a bit of time looking at all of the ladies and trying to see if I could find any of myself in them. Know what is apparent? The lineage for my chronic bitchface goes way back. ;-)

Be disruptive!

What do the Harvard Business Review, Gilmore Girls, and Seth Godin have in common? They all allude to the fact that, in order to soar, shine, OWN in the workplace, you need to be disruptive.

You see, sometimes I do a little business lady reading. It can be a challenge navigating the professional world, and working for a nonprofit can be even more challenging. Yes, we have it a little more laid back, and I thrive on that. However, try finding a way to strike the right balance between professional and laid back in a more casual setting. It's difficult! So, every now and then when I stumble across something that seems to cut through the bullshit, I like to share.

Last week I stumbled upon (thanks to Caiti) a post from the Harvard Business Review entitled Woman Need to Realize Work Isn't School by Whitney Johnson and Tara Mohr. I'll admit that the title gave me pause. I was sure I was in for a condescending piece about women in the workplace but was very pleased to be wrong. Instead, it turned into one of those pieces that I felt compelled to read through twice and then share with my team (99% female) at work. The part that really resonated with me was the first piece of advice: figure out how to challenge and influence authority.

"In school, in order to get the grade, you learned to provide the authority figure — the teacher — what he or she wanted...This approach may get you some initial gold stars, but it won't get you what you really want, which is to be an indispensable player, not just to your boss, but in your industry."

Suddenly, shadowed corners of my brain lit up as I remembered a post on Seth Godin's blog in which he talks about the opportunity cost of not taking the initiative. You know it wasn't long before I flipped through my pop culture mental archives and pulled out the appropriate Gilmore Girls reference (because, hello, the Gilmores are full of life lessons).

Remember the episode in season six (or was it five) where Mitchum Huntzberger tells Rory she doesn't have it, that she isn't cut out to be a reporter? He goes on to tell her how she's fine at doing what's asked but doesn't take the initiative or speak up during a staff meeting. Let me tell you, I hated him for doing that and took great pleasure when Richard Gilmore tells him off later that season. Looking back, though, I get that this is exactly what Johnson, Mohr and Godin are talking about.

I think it's an important business lady lesson regardless of what your "business" is. The basic premise makes as much sense for nonprofit life as it does for someone in a more traditional business.

Bottom line? Go forth and be disruptive!

Rapid-fire book reviews (aka January's book gluttony)

Remember that time I got all preachy on how I loved to read slow? Well, I have a confession to make. The universe (err...my brother and his girlfriend) conspired against me (um...got me a really nice BN gift card for Christmas) and somehow (well...I never said I couldn't read fast) I read six (and a half) books in January. Considering I read roughly twelve books last year, gluttonous is the only way to describe my January reading habits.

Do not fool yourself into thinking that I am backing away from my premise that the nature of slowly devouring a book can be sublime. I still plan to embrace this and, in fact, have already slowed my pace for February. Still, a combination of Homeland (season 1), Zero Dark Thirty, and this article by Michael Bourne (appearing on The Millions) had me wondering if I was missing something by not giving myself over to the other side (you know who you are, you goal-setting Goodreaderites). Curious as to how these three things could lead me to decide to pick up my reading pace for 2013? To truly get it, you'd have to be comfortable crawling around inside my head. Let's just say that I'm jealous of an intelligence officer's ability to devour thousands of documents and pieces of information, find connections that aren't readily apparent, and come up with brilliant deductions.

So, I decided to see what I can cram in this year while also trying not to impede my attempts to create more than I consume.

What did I read last month?

Two Graves by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child: Why? Because I love this series.

In this long-awaited (well...long for a fan) follow up to Cold Vengeance, we finally learn what happened to Helen, Special Agent Pendergast's lost love, and her backstory. This one gets dark pretty quick, and for about half the book, I found myself wondering if we'd finally see the end of Pendergast and the series.

Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth: Why? Because Scarlet and Reishia raved about them.

I've been a fan of the dystopian, post-apocalyptic since way back in the day (yeah, I said it), so it's no surprise I enjoyed this peek into a future world where class systems have been shaken up and redefined by virtues/character traits. Things, of course, begin to fall apart as the ugly side of human nature emerges and begins to reveal cracks in the facade. There's also a love story, but would you expect any less from a young adult thriller? By the way, I totally refused to read the last chapter of Insurgent for about a week because I knew I'd be left hanging until the third book comes out.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson: Why? Because I read her rooster post once, saw Ashley mention the book was funny, and Ravena told me it was on sale for $1.99.

Other than the post I mentioned above, I've never really read the Bloggess (am I supposed to capitalize 'the'?). It wasn't that I was avoiding her. It's more that she never really made it on my radar screen. Had I been a regular reader, I might have realized long ago that she grew up in a tiny place in West Texas just outside of where I grew up and attended the same college I did. It should be no surprise that I found myself snorting with laughter while reading this and wanting to copy passages to email my mom. While we definitely had different experiences growing up, there was still plenty in this book to identify with. Read this if you like shooting snot out of your nose from laughing so hard.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan: Why? Because of this review and the BN overview.

I feel like this is a book aimed at book lovers and technophiles alike. Bookstores filled with volume after volume of arcane titles that threaten to collapse in on you, lovable, yet eccentric characters, and some Google bait. It's a fun read.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater: Why? Because Scarlet named it as her favorite book of 2012.

This book was pretty damn magical and perhaps my favorite of my January reads. I approached this book with a bit of skepticism because, to be honest, I was expecting the now common slate of vampires, wolves, etc. It was so refreshing to be proven wrong and read something that focuses on a family of seers. I'm also a sucker for mystical places created in Virginia and created folklore around real historical figures. I'm seriously downplaying the premise of this book; however, this is supposed to be a rapid-fire review. Also, I've got something special I want to do for this particular title.

I also started Midnight Rising by Tony Horwitz last month, if you're wondering where my 1/2 book came from. I'm still pouring through that one but hope to finish soon!

By the way, did you hear that DC was voted most literate city for the third year in a row?
 

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope

My friend, Duncan, drawing comics at the Barnes & Noble cafe.

I'm attracted to passionate people. I've said it before, but it bears repeating. These are the type of people I like to fill with my life with. If you get bored often or don't dream*, I'm going to struggle with how to fit you into my life.

Comic-Con Episode IV is FILLED with people with a dream. This documentary follows the lives of six uber-fans as they prepare for their big moment at San Diego Comic-Con.

• Holly is the mega-talented costume designer who can recreate video game and comic worlds from scratch. She's preparing to compete in the Masquerade costume contest. 
• Chuck is a dealer who owns Mile High Comics in Denver and is struggling to keep his business afloat in the face of a changing comics market and Comic-Con's growing focus on the broader entertainment market. 
• James and Se Young are young fans who met and found love at Comic-Con. 
• Skip and Eric are aspiring illustrators that hail from different parts of the country and have radically different origin stories. Both make their way to Comic-Con to show off their drawings and hope to be discovered.

Interspersed with each fan's journey are clips of fanboy (and girl) heroes like Stan Lee, Kevin Smith, Josh Whedon, and Harry Knowles talking to the camera about the comic book scene, evolution of Comic-Con, and pretty much whatever floats their boat. Kevin Smith, always funny as hell, was a particular favorite.

I really dug this documentary. I found it equally endearing, inspiring, and at times, laugh out loud funny. It's a largely hopeful look at normal people trying to live the dream and little bit of an oral history of San Diego Comic-Con rolled into one. While scenes of the massive crowds and multi-day lines did nothing to quell the notion that this crowd-fearing introvert would wind up huddled in a corner, it did make me want to pick those Avengers comics back up and continue the comic book project I started last year.

*I'm not picky. Your dream could be to find the best tater tots in the state of Illinois or your passion could be memorizing your favorite lines from BSG. 

First February

What my weekend looks like when I plan to be productive but just can't be bothered...

1. Coffee meet-ups and the matinee of Warm Bodies.
2. Being glad that they didn't show all the funny parts with the best friend in the trailers and that I only paid $5 for the show.
3. Death is a motherfucker.
4. Starting season two of The Walking Dead.
5. Snow flurries after dark, heated seats, and an awesome pal by my side.
6. Legitimate Irish pubs with friends I haven't seen for a while.
7. Exchanging pleasantries with Ripken the cat.
8. Sleeping in, a tiny bit of work, and chats with a friend.
9. Watching the rest of the second season of The Walking Dead.
10. Last half of the Super Bowl and feeling anxious about not working more.

Oliver Jeffers

It's been awhile since a painting sparked more than a cursory interest, much less left a deeper fire burning in my gut once I discovered the rest of the artist's work. Oliver Jeffers is one such artist, and damn, does it feel good to find someone to get excited about again!

Still life with light and lightbulb

This Irish fellow turned New Yorker is probably best known for his children's books, but it's his other work that took my breath away. Whimsy and an appealing aesthetic aside, it's the wit he infuses his paintings with that is especially compelling. 'Still life with logic and a choice of beverage', and his other pieces that include mathematical equations, are some of my favorite.

Still life with logic and choice of beverage

2013 dream jar

When I stumbled across this dream jar tutorial on the Free People blog, I knew I needed to put one together. It's sort of a magical way capture your dreams, right? Mine? It has a bit of a map and torn ticket stubs for travel, bits of vintage lace for creativity, a piece of granite for the great outdoors, and a polaroid for love :-)

5 things you need to keep in mind when eating barbecue in Texas

I am by no means a barbecue savant. Still, you can guarantee I'll (1) always have barbecue when I travel back to Texas and (2) crave it when I'm hanging around vegans. I didn't leave San Angelo on my most recent trip, but I managed to eat at both Bodacious Bar-B-Q and Bubba's. As I was scooping ice out of Bubba's cooler, it occurred to me that there are five things* you need to keep in mind when eating barbecue in Texas.

1. There will always be a loaf of white bread on the table.
2. Do not think about whose hands have been inside that bag.
3. Things could get messy, so make sure you've also got the roll of paper towels.
4. It's as much about the sides as it is the meat.
5. Speaking of meat, you'll probably have to pick out your own. Don't worry, I've never seen them name it.


*These things may hold true in other states, too, but it hasn't been my experience with Virginia barbecue.

My story as told by water, part III

Not all of my early years in the water happened in swimming pools.

When you think of Texas, water probably isn't something that you immediately associate with the state. Water is a daily part of life in Texas, especially whether or not it will rain. We talk a lot about rain...and dust. Still, we were lucky enough to have a few local watering holes.

The photo above was taken at Lake Nasworthy*, locally known as Lake Nasty Water. I don't really know why we called it that. Perhaps because of its mucky bottom? We only ever went to the lake for events. It wasn't the kind of place--we weren't the kind of people--to go hang out at the lake just because. In fact, my memories of it are spotty at best and largely associated with driving past it on my way to the airport or hanging out at my friend Audrey's house on the water. Audrey had a ferret, saved spiders and would find snakes in the grass near the boat launch. She was the closest thing to an outdoorsy friend that I had. To the younger me, she was both crazy and exotic.

There was one 4th of July where we joined the throngs of people headed to the lake, the car packed tightly with lawn chairs and blankets, to enjoy the fireworks. Even that was more about the cacophony of sounds and tepid display of lights than the water. The only time I remember actually going in the water was during a group picnic-brouhaha-thing at the university lake house. Lacking the carefree nature of my friends and acquaintances, I was the girl in cheap, slip-on water shoes edging her way into the water and squirming as her feet sank further in the mud. 

*I'm going to spare you the lecture on how I now know it's a reservoir. False advertising!

(January) Creating an inviting home

The title is a bit disingenuous. I've always been the type of person to immediately unpack after moving, don't hesitate to get art up on the wall and am always making minor adjustments. Still, there have been a few pieces--nightstands, dresser--I've been looking for since I moved into the new space last February. I decided to take my goal of creating more and focus on my apartment in January.

The shot above is a tiny corner of my bedroom. I finally found a bedside table that fit my aesthetic (and that can very easily become something else when I change my mind). Even more exciting though is the locker/cabinet I stenciled! Inspired by Victoria's bathroom makeover, I snagged the Ikea atran medicine cabinet and created a stencil to spiff it up. I think it will be a great place to hide lotion for my dry hands, vitamins I always forget to take and other odds and ends. A friend suggested I use it for me salacious purposes, but that's another conversation for another time. :-)

I've got more home projects up my sleeve that I'll share when done. The downside (upside?) is that this is only making me want to spend the winter months snuggled up at home even more.