Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Thursday, December 25, 2008

New Year's Meme


This month, in photos
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?

Figured out how to feed myself for extended periods of time. Been militant about bus taking.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I think I pretty much did keep my resolutions, except I fell off the wagon with that 'yeah, I'm going to have time to make crap' thing. Oops.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


Err, no?

4. Did anyone close to you die?


No.

5. What countries did you visit?

Does, like, five minutes in Canada count? Probably not. This will change next year, however.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

Ooh. I don't know. I'm good in terms of material possessions. Maybe more of an ability to stand up to jerks?

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

First(ish) date with Milton, Opening Night of Urinetown, uh...

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I don't know. Not failing any of Don's classes sounds like a good one. Oh, and my Body Mouths sculpture. I'm pretty proud of that.

9. What was your biggest failure?


Not doing any acting I'm particularly proud of.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?


Nothing huge.

11. What was the best thing you bought?


Um... I made some pretty good Goodwill steals. Actually, I like all of the clothing I bought this year, because I'm becoming more selective about what I wear. So that's good.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?


Anne Brady (best director/teacher, such a real person)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?


Most of the Theatre students who live in University Plaza, for various reasons I won't bother going into.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Uh... you know. Some stuff here, some there. Oh, and a lot of theatre in the summer.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Blogs, Theatre, Adventures, Birthdays, Parties, Movies. Mostly adventures.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

Er. 'I Kissed a Girl'? It will always remind me of this summer at work, anyway...

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder?
Much happier. Not that I was sad all of the time last year, I'm just really happy this year.
b) thinner or fatter?
About the same.

c) richer or poorer?

About the same... maybe a little richer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Made new friends, as opposed to hanging onto lame old ones.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?


Let other people waste my time.

20. How did you/will you spend Christmas?


Same as always- presents under the tree in the morning, then down to NJ.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?


yes.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

the presidential election results on FOX.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Oh yes.

24. What was the best book you read?


Of course I can only think of the ones I just read, but 'Oryx + Crake' was pretty good.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?


Just one? Can we go with re-discovery and say Musical Theatre?

26. What did you want and get?


A new jacket!

27. What did you want and not get?


A part in a play

(b) [I'm adding] What did you not want and get?

A boyfriend.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?


Wall-E!

(I'm Adding) What was your least favorite film of this year?
Iron Man! Oh, and the Indiana Jones movie was pretty awful too.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

On my actual birthday, I went to New York with my Mom and saw a lame exhibit at the met and then "the 49 Steps" which was screamingly funny, + then went home for dinner + cake. For my party, I went to the beach with some very well loved friends and then swam in Mary's pool.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Having a rockin' housing situation for next year.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?


Never underdressed.

32. What kept you sane?

A calm boyfriend, blogs, Twitter. My dad.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?


idk... Martin McDonagh?

34. What political issue stirred you the most?


...

35. Who did you miss?


Danielle! I had nobody to text absurdities at 4 AM to anymore.

36. Who was the best new person you met?


Does Milton count if I didn't really remember him from 2007? No? Then let's go with my 208 students. They were pretty cool, after I got over myself.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Calm the fuck down, bitch!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

My lip gloss is cool, my lip gloss is poppin'.

Friday, November 21, 2008

I have a problem.

It's called costume design.

Things were fine enough at the beginning of the semester- I researched the 1930s to my hearts content, and started putting together Urinetown. But then... I watched the show. And it was funny. REALLY funny. You know what happened in the show?

There was singing. and DANCING. at the same time.

I started listening to Legally Blonde again. and Wonderful Town. And Chicago.

Now, in class, we're doing musicals, + I've picked Guys and Dolls, and my dominant attitude towards the Hot Box girls is "well, it's good, but it needs more glitter."

This evening I'm going to watch Cabaret while I paint my nails.

Right after I watch this for the fifth time:





Subtitled "Christopher Walken does WHAT?!" I would have loved to see him in his dancing day. Oh, and I must chase down this movie.

Don't try to save me- you'll only get rhinestones glued to your eyelids.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The End of Vacation...


Kayakers
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
... is dry cereal + berries because the milk has gone bad in the two weeks we've been away.
... is lying my sweaters out on the porch to dry so I can stuff them back in their box.
... is lounging in sweatpants, + actually liking it.
... is starting to realize that a bathing suit doesn't make an acceptable bra.
... is trying very hard not to think about packing.
... means less lonely nights + more partying like it's the 70s in every apartment somebody I know owns.
... is the end of homemade meals + the beginning of salads every day for lunch.
... means packing, for the third week in a row, for a somewhat more permanent vacation.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Olympic Efforts


Synchro
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
So, anybody in the United States with any media contact at all now knows the name of Michael Phelps. It's not that kid's fault- he didn't ask for the exhaustive coverage. But the problem is that most of the interviewers ask really, REALLY stupid questions-

Q: What were you thinking?
A: That I'd like to win.

Q: How do you feel now?
A: Great!
[Replies provided by me]

Listening to these questions is tedious, and I'm sure answering them is a similar experience. As an answer to that, I have provided five questions of my own I'd like Mr. Phelps to answer:

1. Do you have a pool in your backyard?
2. What is your favorite swimsuit (that you own)?
3. Other than swimming, what is your favorite Olympic event to watch?
4. What was the best meal you ate while in Beijing?
5. You're the best swimmer in the world- now what?

You can answer in the comments section, or e-mail me directly if you'd like, sir.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

I never gave a damn about the weather, + the weather never gave a damn about me


Golf day
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
I work in a country club where the people sit out in the open air under a pavilion to eat. It's really quite scenic + lovely, actually- the pavilion overlooks the 18th hole, + you can see other portions of the course from it. My clientele actually isn't as snippy as you would think country club people would be, and overall it's a pretty nice setup. But you know what I can't stand? Talking about the weather. I can't tell you how many times that's the first thing that comes out of people's mouths when they sit down, + then I get suckered into the same conversation I've already had seven times that day. I don't care. I've never cared. If you have to make commentary on the weather to be able to talk to the person you're with, maybe it's time to move on.

That being said? I LOVE the weather this morning! It's cool, like a late September morning, before frost. I love the colder weather- the opportunities for layering clothing + wearing cozy sweaters becomes endless. Plus, all the good September food is available (apples, squash, late corn), and who doesn't love a cup of spiced hot cider?

Granted, this atmosphere will not last very long, but for now I can enjoy cuddling up in my bed under a stack of blankets, with my dog + my laptop.

Good Morning. ♥

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The Little Mermaid- or, absolutely hilarious puns.


Drama!
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
Today! I woke early, + dressed myself for the day: Pink spotty skirt, paint shoes, blue double-u-neck American Apparel dress, boat sweater, fish earrings, Mrs. Lovett hair (I woke up with A Little Priest in my head). I really don't think I went overboard- I could have worn my mermaid skirt from Halloween (speaking of which, I must begin planning my costume immediamente).

On the train in, I read Fuddy Meers, which was vaguely confusing, but an entertaining read. Not really any (female) characters that I'm attracted to, but I won't be in the United States (hopefully) when we do that, so no loss. I can see, however, why Lindsay-Abbare is Matt Koenig's favorite writer. As I tittered over the script, the man across the aisle from me tapped me on the arm, and asked
"Are you an actress?"
"I'm in school for it, yes. Why?"
"Oh, well it's just that you really don't see too many people carrying around scripts these days."
"I guess that's so. Are you involved in theatre?"
"Well, I went to Carnegie Mellon for design, but..."
Ha! We had a nice little chat after that. He's apparently a web designer and photographer now, but that was cool.

I met up with Mary at the Lundt-Fontaine, + we got our Little Mermaid tickets- right in the front row. Then it was skipping off to MoMA where we were total badasses and walked straight past the line (after one of the guards was very rude to me) to the information desk for our free SUNY tickets. HA! I was looking for the Dada exhibit, but couldn't find it. However, we did see some stuff by Olafur Eliasson, who "concieves immersive environments- from model room featuring visionary sculptural maquettes to fluid light projections and multipart photographic series ... Probing the cognitive aspects of what it means to see, Eliasson creates complex optical phenomena using simple, makeshift technical devices." (-Museum Guide) It was quite neat- yellow lighting turned everybody black + white (although, when I tried to take a picture, everything just looked yellow), there were some neat mirror/spotlight tricks, and some things which I think were created just so the artist could laugh at his audience. Mostly though, we walked about being pretentious and playing name-that-ism. I also got to yell at The Absolutely Naked Fragrance, although not quite as much as I wanted to.

Hungry, we got some Italian food, which was good, but unimpressive, and then went to the theatre, where I dropped off a note for Merwin.

WELL! Disney certainly does have enough money. It's been a while since I've been to a real out-and-out splashy Braodway musical, so it was good, but at some points I felt like I was watching a Vegas show- I concluded that Ariel actually only wanted to go to the surface because all of the mermen were homosexuals: she needed somebody who could actually love her (and how's THAT for vigorous misuse of hyphenation?). They really took the Ursula-as-vamp thing + ran with it, which was delightful. The boy playing flounder was really cute, and overall, it was quite well done. I mostly spent the whole time drooling over all of the costumes.

During curtain call, I waved madly at Merwin, + he waved back I made a come-to-the-stage-door motion, which I did. He explained how the guy fell from the rafters, showed us the special 3M floor, the tracks, the costumes, all the bits. It was quite interesting, + quite a bit smaller (duh) than the last backstage of his I saw, at the Mariott Marquis, because it is supposed to be a straight play theatre, not a musical theatre (with 1400+ seats...?). There is therefore less storage space, and the flies were used rigorously. I will also never, ever complain about having to do things for a show- he had to learn all kinds of new forms of locomotion for the Merboots, does at least six different costume/makeup changes and climbs about 100 flights of stairs per show. There are also well over 500 light cues alone.

On the train, I read The House of Yes, which was unabashedly glamorous. I am extremely attracted to that show, I would love to be either Jackie-O or the mother. I guess I'll start thinking about my monologue soon- hopefully something from August: Osage County. Driving home, we stopped to let a turkey and her 14 chicks (turk-lets? turkey-tots? turkins?) cross the road. They were SO cute!

Now, a casa, it is time for some relaxing, and perhaps some more work on the skirt I started yesterday. I love my friends and all, but it is so damn convenient to be able to be a complete hermit for a month- I get to really get lots of me-things done.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Style Meme


In the Car
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
Job?
Waitress/Hostess/Student

Best Sartorial advice from your parents?
It is always better to be over dressed than under dressed.

Style icons?
Friends: Sara Pauker, Megan-Sara Karre, Dallas DeFee, Jess Condyles
Public Figures: Gala Darling, Bjork, Zoetica Ebb, Tilda Swinton

Describe your personal style
Pants: Destroyed Jeans or shorts over tights
Skirts: Long and flowing. Homemade.
Dresses: White
Shirts: Oxford, wifebeaters, corsets, American Apparel, backless, homemade, NEVER t-shirts
Winterwear: Sweaters (preferably handknit), knit beanies, a pile of handknit scarves or beanies.
Footgear: Sandals, High Heels, Boots, NEVER sneakers.
Headgear: Turbans, scaves, sunhats.
Jewelry: at least five rings on each hand. Big earrings. Maybe a beaded bracelet.
Underpants: Anything cheap from H + M

I build my daily look around?
Depends- not too much white if I'm going to be in the studio. Usually I plan a bunch of outfits a week in advance, + put those on when the whim takes me. The color of the sky helps a lot.

Personal Style quirk?
A fistful of rings

Most cherished item?
Baby blanket quilted for me by my Tanta Gale when I was 5.

I feel best wearing?
pink lip gloss + my rockstar sunglasses.

The first thing I look at in another Sartorialist?s outfit ...
Style- do they absolutely love what they are wearing? Does it make them feel great? Did they decide to put those things together, or buy them straight off the store model?

I always break this fashion rule.
Tall women shouldn't wear heels

Never caught wearing?
Any of these: Sneakers, sweatshirt/pants, baseball cap, t-shirt.

Most underrated item in menswear/womenswear?
Bright color near the face.

Dress to impress who?
Myself, and whoever I decide I have a crush on that day.

Shine your own shoes?
Don't need to.

Shoetrees?
What?

Favorite stores?
Anthropologie, Goodwill, American Apparel, Brooks Brothers, Etsy,

Your next "must have" purchase?
Green Sunglasses

I skimp when buying ...
Drawing Paper

Favorite item of clothing
Recently, my painting smock I fished out of the scrap bin in the costume shop.

Guilty pleasure
Leggings

Cologne, skincare?
Cologne:
So In Love by Victoria's Secret... looking to change that one soon.

Skincare:
Uhh... whatever seems to be working at the moment. Clearasil facewash, Burt's Bees exfoliant, Dermatologist stuff, and Dove face lotion.

Most stylish city?
NYC, natch.

When I was in high school I wore?
Oooh... I went straight from off-the-shelf goth to Thrift store hippie

Sports?
Watching? Baseball, Polo. Playing? I'll swim.

Favorite fashion magazine?
French vogue

Favorite vacation spot?
Bermuda, Rome

Favorite neighborhood restaurant?
Binghamton: The Lost Dog, Tilly's, Moghul
Mahopac: Kira Sushi, Jaipore,
Manhattan: Afghan Kebab House

Monday, May 12, 2008

Sky grey-bleu.


The Violence of Flowers
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
Today is not a day for studying for tests. Tests written by the man considered to be the toughest grader in my department. Oh no. Today is a day for going to see "Einstein's Knees", my friends synesthetic light show based on Einstein on the Beach. It is a day for lying in bed reading letters + lamenting the loss of the art of letter writing. A day for eating chocolate, drinking tea, + fantasizing about the cracker-cheese-sausage pyramids I am going to build when I get home for the summer. Bonus points for listening to mixes composed of Iron + Wine, Timbaland, + the Kronos Quartet.
___

You know what was a horrible movie? Iron Man. I know, I know! It has gotten almost universal (93% positive on rottentomatoes.com) good reviews, and everybody rants and raves about how good it was. And it was probably a big mistake for me to go see that- I'm more of a El Labrinto Del Fauna and Persepolis kind of gal (although I'm really excited for Dark Knight and the new James Bond movie ... so sue me).

But really. It was vaguely well-written until the giant robots showed up and they fired the screenwriters, and Obadiah wore some friggin' sweet neckties, but mostly I just spent the whole time laughing at how terrible it was. Plus, it took seven of my last ten dollars. I'm allowed to resent it for that, right?

My favorite part was when Pepper ran at a dead sprint in an hobble skirt and spike heels across open gratework, when the rest of the movie she had been sort of penguin-ing around the whole time.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Drawing Homework


So many things
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
I have to draw a landscape for Drawing, and it is so much harder than I ever thought it would be. I've never really done landscapes before. But, it's given me a project for the summer- because landscapes are pretty easy to get access to, particularly in Putnam.

It's very nice to just sit outside right now, though. It's still cool, but things are growing, and I've seen baby turtles and little goslings and energetic frogs. Plus the soundscape ain't bad.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Spring Fling


A Pie in the Face.
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
I went to the spring festivities on campus today, and other than a sunburn and a fish that died instantly, I got these nifty photos of Mary pie-ing a frat boy in the face. I think it was worth $2 for these photos.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Bright day


Cloudy-eyed
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
I was doing some drawing homework today, and Milton came to visit me. While cloud-watching (a favorite activity), I saw the clouds reflected quite clearly in his eyes. I couldn't really get the picture without obscuring the whole cloud view, but he was kind enough to let me stick the camera right in his face anyway. Actually, it looks a bit like a star of david, dunnit?

Anyway. That's my cute boyfriend.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Shock of all Shocks


I went hiking near breakneck ridge today. There were great views of the Hudson Valley, and this wonderful little thing at a break in the trail. Were I to be filming Macbeth for that project we did in high school again, I would totally put the witches here. They'd be chillin', and Macbeth and Macduff would come up over the hill and find them. 'Twas a most blasted heath. It was one of those things I feel like I always see along the side of the road, and go "man, I wish I could get out of the car and take a billion pictures."

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Beacon


Milton
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
I drove to Beacon today, but stopped first in Lake Mohegan (which gives me absolute fits to drive through, it stresses me out so much) to pick up my new copy of the First Folio. <3

I met up with Milton at Dia:Beacon, which was not very, aah... accessible. There was a Richard Sera piece which I of course enjoyed, an odd plywood construction against a wall that made it look like there was a big hole in the floor, + too much art we weren't allowed to get near. I find that those kinds of museums are most fun when you're allowed to take pictures in them- art about the art is more interesting than the art itself. Is that offensive, or narrow-minded? I guess I'd be annoyed if somebody thought that about my art... but my art isn't in a museum, eh?

After, we went to the Muddy Cup coffee house, which may win the prize for Best Coffee House, ever. Too bad it's half an hour away from my house. They had such a huge selection that I couldn't decide what I wanted, and a neat aesthetic. Throne-like chairs, and a good place to sit + chat quietly for a few hours, which we did.

I took the scenic route through Fahnstock state park back home, but was sad that it was so cloudy. On even just a decent night, you can see the milky way from there, and when the lake is still, it gets reflected in the lake, surrounded by tree-covered hills, + is quite breathtaking. I learned to skip stones there, actually.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Getting over it


A Well-Made Bed
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
So many photos of my bed lately! Well, I guess that's what happens when you're sick. Today, however, I was feeling better, + even had the energy to make my bed. I think when your bed is made, it instantly makes the whole room tidier.

I don't know why, but ever since starting college I've become a bit of a neatnick, and that tendency has just accelerated with the past semester. I always make my bed, and clean my room every night before going to sleep. I just can't think when my room is a mess.

Anyway, that weird looking white pillow in front of the doll is actually a "book bag", a cute little bag to keep (you got it!) books in. I put 'Little Women' in there, so I don't have to think about it while I'm not reading it.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Day one- again


Day one
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
I'm baaaaack! Here are the new rules: I'll take a photo a day, + I'll try to put them on my flickr at least every three days, and try to blog at least once a week. Mmmkay? Take your marks... go!

After a long night of (mostly) inoffensive shenanigans, Matt, Mike, Dave, Jason Zwick, Allie, Mary + I headed to the diner, for a little late morning nosh. And Matt, being the hooligan he is, looked like he was commiting some kind of intrigue behind that menu.