Welcome Mr. President

I'm watching the inauguration of our new President, Barrack Obama, and just completely overwhelmed by the power of this moment. I just listened to the most incredible arrangement of Air and Simple Gifts played by some of the most remarkable musicians of our time, and was moved by the beauty of it. John Williams' brilliant arrangement I hope will soon be in my catalog of favorites on my ipod.
. . .
His speech was tempered yet filled with passion and hope. I, with so many others today, feel a bit more brightness of hope. And I eagerly look forward to seeing what we can do as a nation with President Obama guiding our course.
. . .
On a slightly more superficial note- How great did Malia and Sasha look in their J.Crew Coats with satin sashes? And the First Lady looked great as well in her ambitious ly regal chartreuse ensemble! I am not-so-secretly loving the fun fashion of politics!




ps- my roommate is somewhere in this photo!
She was blessed to be able to get tickets to the
inauguration, and has now been a 1st hand
witness to this piece of history! I can't wait til
she gets home to tell me all about it!

HEART, MIGHT, MIND AND STREGTH

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, and The National Day of Service. . . and by means of honoring the historic call to service by our soon-to-be President Obama (Yay!), I am posting today my own challenge to you to live your life in service! Share with us here on the blog how you are going to be giving service today (or this week or year!)
It can be something tiny, it can be something huge. . . and if you haven't already planned something, it can be spontaneous!

As my way of being a part of this historic day, I am committing to an ongoing act of service without an end date. I was inspired by something I observed while living in Japan.

Every Sunday morning when I would get up (at the crack of dawn) and head out to church, I would see these cute elderly people all along the road on my way to the train. They carried plastic bags, wore gloves and smiled and chatted as they worked. We called them the Sunday fairies! They picked up trash, recycled, swept up leaves, and brightened the day for everyone!

So, I have decided to pick up trash in the park across the street from my apartment. And I commit to doing this once a week.
If we all join together and pick up a little trash, our whole world could be just a little bit nicer!

Now, I challenge you to lose yourself in service today!
To help you out, here are a few ideas gleaned Seth Godin's Blog:

Here are some ideas that you can do online or in your community, with time, not so much with money.

1. Read a copy of the Lorax to a child that's never heard it.
2. Teach someone how to sell their services on Craigslist, or how to use the web to find a job.
3. Go through your house and find beloved books that you're glad you read... and give them to the library.
4. Create and promote an online petition for a cause you care about.
5. Make a video that teaches people how to do better in a job interview or balance a checkbook or spot consumer fraud.
6. Start a Facebook group for like-minded people who support the same non-profit you do. Commit to spending time to promote it, organize the people there and actually create outcomes of value.
7. Seek out a religion that isn't yours and volunteer to help build a bridge between your circle and theirs.
8. Write ten letters a day to corporations seeking donations for a local homeless shelter.
9. Find a cause that supports soldiers or diplomats or other public servants that are on the road, and make it easier for them to connect with people back home.
10. Write a great wikipedia article every day about a person who is changing the world for the better.

My Muse

Sarah Baskin is an actor and a yogi. She is raven haired with porcelain skin, and has the most wonderfully infectious energy! We shot on a very very cold winter day last week, and since the wind was so harsh, we decided to take advantage of the great light in my apartment.
We shot nearly 400 frames, and I couldn't stop my self from editing 27 shots!
Take a look at what I'm talking about! Stunning, right?



















And now for my favorites. . . .
can anyone guess what area of my apartment this was shot in?

Paparazzi!!!!

Tonight, I was headed to the same location that Tamara was headed for Date #2. The Rebecca Jennejohn Dance Concert (featuring our friend Aja Graves.)
So, I brought along my camera and long lens so I could hide behind a corner and grab a few candid shots!
I'm certain they must have seen me, but as they were trying to have a date in a room of about 25 of their friends, I'm sure they hardly paid any attention.
Click here to hear it from her perspective!

31 Dates in 31 Days

My friend Tamara, a writer for Good Morning America, recently turned 31.
In celebration of this game changing age (or rather, as a means to make lemonade out of lemons. . . ) she decided to create the greatest dating challenge EVER! She would go on 30 first dates in a row, everyday, blog about them, and then culminate in a 2nd date (as voted upon by blog readers) that will take place on Valentine's Day, totalling in 31 dates! And since she works at GMA, there is a possibility of doing the big reveal on air on Valentine's Day.
There are a few ground rules:
*Each date lasts at least 31 minutes
*Each date costs less than $31
*Some of the dates will be with friends *Some dates will be with strangers *Some will be set-ups...
*Dates will take place in a public setting
*No drugs
*No alcohol (Yes, seriously. None.)
*No married men
She asked me to take some photos for her blog, and though it was freezing outside, we had a fun time. I drew her up a little sign, which in turn drew all the wrong attention. . . but the photos convey the right message.
She is such a freakin' awesome girl, and I'm so inspired by her adventurous spirit!
Follow her amazing journey at www.31datesin31days.com!
Here's to 31!












PS- Like my new watermark? Thanks to Dave Schefcik for his killer design!

I work with an amazing company!

Just was reading up on some info about Lululemon today, and came across this window put together by the team in Georgetown and felt that I should share it. It is not only a brilliant use of branding (the birds are a signature print for our company's RUN line) but a beautiful message for the future of our nation! It brought tears to my eyes. I hope you appreciate the beauty in the simplicity of this window.

HEART, MIGHT, MIND AND STREGTH

This week, though a tough week, was also a great week.
And one of my favorite moments came on Wednesday night as my roommate and I rode the train home after a planning meeting for our forthcoming cabaret.
We were riding a rather bouncy 1 train home, and Jen wasn't holding on to a bar.
She wobbled a bit, and after a really big bump, an elder black man reached his arm out to steady her.
He kept her from taking a tumble and remained posed and ready to catch her again for the rest of the ride home.

In a city like New York, where men on trains are so often sleezy in taking advantage of the crowded subway conditions, it is such a welcome surprise to find someone who automatically reaches out to help without making us feel threatened.
It's the little moments like these that restore my belief in the chivalry and the existence of true gentlemen.

My work on the Web!

Some of the photos I have taken in the last few months have made their way up onto websites and I thought you might like to check 'em out! These artists are amazing, and I am honored to have been able to work with such incredible talent!

JP Castillo
http://www.myspace.com/jpcastillo


Ehm
http://www.myspace.com/ehmstrikesback



Erin Guinup
www.eringuinup.com