chookooloonks blog

youth

Karen Walrond — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:15 +0000

Last week, my friend Pam came over for me to interview and photograph her for my book. I asked her to bring over some items that were meaningful to her, and God help me, she brought her samurai sword. Pam has been doing martial arts for decades now, and this is her favourite sword. There was, obviously, no way in hell I wasn't going to shoot her in action. These are a couple of the outtakes.

The main reason that I asked Pam to be a part of my book is because she is positively the most youthful person I know -- and as I told her, considering I have a 5-year-old daughter, that's really saying something. If I told you how old she is,* you would call me a dirty, dirty liar. She's amazing.

The whole experience of speaking with Pam has put me in a very thoughtful mood about what being "youthful" really means. So I thought I'd open the floor: if you think of the most youthful person you know (regardless of age -- the person could be 2 or 92), what is it about them that makes them "youthful"?

* I'm not going to tell you here. But I will tell you in the book.

Song: Say Hey (I love you) by Michael Franti & Spearhead. Today's song brought to you by Stephanie.

Image: Pam, photographed in my back garden, Nikon D300, 60mm lens

where i spent my formative years

Karen Walrond — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:00:06 +0000

Yesterday, on a whim, I decided to go visit the first real coffeehouse I'd ever patronized, back in the day. For the most part, it looks exactly like it did when I used to go there almost daily back in the mid-90s -- same gold walls, same delicious caffeinated drinks, same cake-slices-as-big-as-my-head. Awesome.

I started coming here on a regular basis just after my first marriage ended: I'd moved out of the safe suburb outside of town where my ex and I had lived, choosing instead to find an apartment closer to downtown and closer to city life. Until that point, I'd lived in safe, homogenous, suburban neighbourhoods all my life (both here and in Trinidad), and despite the fact that I'd traveled extensively by that point, the experience was so eye-opening. I hadn't realized how sheltered I'd been. I'm ashamed to admit it, but it was at this coffeehouse where ...

... I finally realized that choosing an artistic life as a career is just as valid choosing science or engineering as a profession...

... it finally dawned on me that tattoos weren't solely the domain of large, mean-looking men dedicated to a life of crime, but actually a form of art and expression that men and women from all walks of life enjoy ...

... it first occurred to me that having a college degree isn't the sole indicator of intelligence (and, in fact, sometimes isn't an indicator of intelligence at all) ...

... I really, really understood that professors, doctors, artists, architects, dancers, tattoo artists, models, and, yes, dominatrices (long story) actually come in all (and sometimes surprising) shapes and sizes.

In other words, this was the coffeehouse where I finally grew the hell up. And now that I think about it (and although I wouldn't have known how to articulate it at the time), it was the place where I first realized I'd been the victim of many single stories. It's where I finally opened my eyes.

I don't visit this coffeehouse as much as I used to. It's incredibly popular, sometimes even visited by famous people (Jeff Goldblum and Mary Steenburgen once walked by me to grab their cappuccinos here) -- but as a result, it's often a little too bustle-y for my liking, so I usually bypass it for my favourite quiet coffeehouse up the street. Still, I feel very nostalgic when I do come here.

It was a good place to grow up.

* * * * * * *

Some breaking news: The new book Kirtsy Takes a Bow, will be officially released November 15th! In celebration, Kirtsy is throwing a number of launch events around the country, and the first one is right here in Houston:

The Kirtsy Book Event Tour of Justice

Tuesday, November 17: Houston

6:00 – 9:00 pm
Sterrett Street Studio
1305 Sterrett Street, Houston, TX 77002

I'll definitely be there, as will a number of other contributors, to meet, greet and sign books. It'll all be very cocktail-party-like and fabulous. If you're in town that day, I hope you'll stop by.

Song: Been caught stealing by Jane's Addiction

overheard

Karen Walrond — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:00:13 +0000

"God, the weather's great today, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it really is."

"Man, if the weather was like this all the time ..."

"... If the weather was like this all the time, this would be California, and we couldn't afford to live here."

Song: Boa Sorte by Vanessa de Mata featuring Ben Harper. Today's song brought to you by Mauryn.

Image: Photographed with Nikon D300, 60mm lens

marcus has taken to walking around with sunglasses inside

Karen Walrond — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

When we moved into this house, Alex was 3 years old. Contrary to everyone's advice, instead of putting Alex into the larger bedroom, we decided that she should sleep in the smaller bedroom, since (a) it was the closest to our bedroom, and since Alex isn't the best of sleepers, it was the fastest way we could get to each other if necessary, and (b) what the heck does a 3-year-old need with a big bedroom, anyway?

Well, our then-3-year-old is our now-5-1/2-year-old, and it's become apparent she's outgrown the smaller bedroom. So yesterday, we decided to move Alex into the larger bedroom, and make her bedroom the spare room.

At first, she wasn't particularly happy about this -- she's not a kid who likes change. But since she has been nagging me since we moved here to paint the walls of her bedroom pink, I ... and I'm not proud of this ... I bribed her with new pink walls if she would move.

"Pink like this?" she asked, pointing to a bottle of Pepto Bismol.

"Um, no, pink like this," I responded, pointing to a sheet of white notebook paper.

Eventually, we compromised on a colour called Tea Rose, and all day yesterday, Marcus and I moved the furniture out of the spare room, painted, moved her furniture (and all her stuff, dear God, all her stuff) in, and then set up the spare room in her old bedroom. And honestly, both rooms look so much better.

And I say this even though every time we pass her room, particularly if her pink lamps are on, we find ourselves basking in a searing rose glow not unlike that which would eminate if someone dropped a pink nuclear bomb on our house.

Song: Lullaby by Jack Johnson. Today's music brought to you courtesy of Kazari.

quinceañera

Karen Walrond — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

See that Eiffel tower behind them? That's the cake. It was all chocolate. Incredible.

Last night, Marcus, Alex and I attended the Quinceañera of the elder daughter of a friend of mine, Melissa. Melissa and I used to work together back in a past life, and I've known her daughter Maddy since she was 4 years old. My most vivid memory of Maddy is hoisting her up on Santa's lap at our company Christmas party.

And now she's 15.

I have to say, Marcus and I were both in a little bit of shock watching Maddy greet people so graciously, all decked out in her stunning Quinceañera gown. She was so beautiful, yes, but she was also so self-possessed. This wasn't a child we were looking at, here.

"Wait -- that's going to be what our kid will look like in 10 years??" asked Marcus, with more than a little fear in his eyes.

"'Fraid so," I responded grimly.

And yet, as I was wrestling with my discomfort, every now and then Maddy would let me know that the little girl I knew was still inside of her.

And everything felt fine again.

(Congrats, Maddy -- and happy, happy birthday!)

Song: I gotta feeling by Black Eyed Peas.

the danger of a single story

Karen Walrond — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:44:41 +0000

I had a post all ready to publish today, and then my dad forwarded me the link to the following video from the TED conference. I find it so amazingly powerful, I decided to postpone my post and share this instead.

When you have a spare 20 minutes, grab a cup of tea, and then please come back to watch the following. And then share it with your friends. Because I think everyone could do with watching this.

Enjoy.

Song: Interested by india.arie. Today's song brought to you by Glenyse.

love thursday: kissy-face

Karen Walrond — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:00:38 +0000

Outtake from this year's holiday card.

Every year around this time, on one of those beautiful Texas fall days, I drag my family outside to take our annual family self portrait -- primarily for sticking in holiday cards for family and close friends. We do this by precariously balancing a mirror on some of the patio furniture, and then I start clicking away. As is true with every family photo shoot, there are always shots where someone is blinking, or someone's mouth is doing something strange, or someone's smile is too stiff and stilted.

We have a lot of outtakes.

Eventually, we come up with at least one shot that is pretty perfect -- and I'm always surprised to see that the images really do capture the feel of the previous year. I'm not sure how that happens. This year's image is going to be all about exuberance, which is pretty accurate I think, for 2009.

Also, 2009 was all about strained, extreme kissy-face, apparently.

* * * * * * *

Happy Love Thursday, all. Feel free to leave your stories or links to your words or images of love in the comments, below.

And may you have a day full of kissy-face.

Song: Hang on little tomato by Pink Martini. Today's song brought to you by Sara.

smells and sounds

Karen Walrond — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:00:21 +0000

Do you associate smells with certain memories? Because I really, really do, which is somewhat shocking to me, because I generally don't consider myself has having a particularly good memory. But a great smell, man, can just send me rushing back to my past. Some good ones off of the top of my head:

Chanel No. 5 -- My grandmother. Until the day I die.

Pipe smoke -- My grandfather. I hate smoking, but I love the smell of a pipe. LOVE.

Vanilla -- My mom. She used to bake a lot.

Old Spice -- My dad. Again, from my childhood. I don't think he wears it anymore.

Men's cologne in general -- Walking through the men's dorm on a Friday night. Occasionally, when I was at university, I would have dinner at the student centre, and the fastest way to get there from my women's dorm was through the ground floor of the men's dorm. I loved walking through there on Friday evenings because the halls were filled with the smell of men's cologne as they were getting ready for their dates, I presume. I loved the idea that they were taking extra care.

On Monday mornings, the dorm generally returned to smelling like a combination of sweaty socks and regret. So, you know, it was good while it lasted.

Sandy beaches -- Manzanilla, Mayaro, Trinidad.

Coconut -- summers in the United States. It reminds me of suntan oil.

It's because of this that when I find a scent I like, I tend to wear only that scent, every day, for years. I love the thought that as people come and go through my life, years from now, that scent will make them think of me. And I especially love the idea that my daughter will associate that scent with me when she's an adult.

Is that crazy?

* * * * * * *

Because I've become intimidated by the thought of coming up with a new song every day for the rest of this month, I'm going to ask for some help (and hopefully avoid another Miley Cyrus debacle like yesterday): can you tell me your favourite song and artist in the comments below? I'll happily find and listen to all of them -- I'm always on the hunt for new, good music -- and the ones I love I'll happily feature here on Chookooloonks, with credit to you, of course, and a link to your site, if you have one.

Thanks, all. Have a great day.

Song: Right as rain by Adele

Image: a fountain I passed yesterday while walking home from voting. Photographed with Nikon D300, 50mm manual lens.

coming clean

Karen Walrond — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:45 +0000

When I met Heather B. about eighteen months ago, we'd each heard of and read each other's blogs before, but we'd never actually met each other in person. About 5 minutes into our conversation, I dropped an F-bomb.

"Oh my God," gasped Heather. "Chookooloonks just said the f-word."

"Um, yeah," I responded. "Did I offend you? I'm really sorry."

"No!" she said immediately. "I'm cool with it! It's just ... you never curse on your blog. You're all love and light on Chookooloonks. I'm really shocked."

"Well, that's different," I said. "I mean, there, I'm writing. I'm editing. And I always find I can come up with a better choice of words when I'm writing. But sometimes when I'm talking ... well, it's the best expletive I can find."

While I found the whole exchange above really quite funny, there was a part of me that was bothered by it -- I hate that she might have been misled into thinking that I live my life in a cloud of self-realization, because NOTHING could be farther from the truth. I mean, of course, the person you read on this site is definitely who I am at my core, but it's a version of me that takes the time to edit and ensure that what gets published is what I truly want to say in my heart of hearts. But in my day-to-day life, I'm ... well, I'm messier. So without further ado, the following are some of what I'm like in real life as well, so that we can all make sure we're on the same page:

1. So, yes, I curse. Not nearly as sailor-like as I did before I became a parent, and I do a pretty good job of not cursing in front of my daughter, but yeah. I do love a well-placed expletive every now and then. It's true.

2. I do pray every day, usually right before I fall asleep, in gratitude. This is a practice that I've been pretty true to all my life. I don't, however, meditate every day. I really want to, and when I did meditate pretty religiously for a few months about a decade ago, I loved how it changed my life. But I was single and childless then, and now, as a wife and a mother who tries to fit in a full-time career in 6 hours a day, time often just gets away from me, and my meditation becomes very sporadic. I really should figure out a way to do it again as a daily practice.

3. I HATE to exercise. Absolutely hate it. I do it, in occasional spurts and fits, but I don't enjoy it. I'm still searching for that perfect exercise that leaves me feeling exhilarated rather than exhausted and slightly annoyed; but I haven't found it yet (with the possible exception of Bikram yoga, but unfortunately I can never seem to find a class at a convenient time at a convenient location, so that makes it difficult).

4. I'm a pretty type-A person, which manifests as astonishingly extreme impatience. Marcus, however, has the patience of Job, thank God, because I seriously don't know how he puts up with me. The tiniest thing can get under my skin. Thank heavens I don't tend to hold grudges, or I would be truly, truly curmudgeonly.

In addition, the following are things which I think are very true about me, and which I think is obvious from reading this site:

1. I love my family and I love my life. Really, really.

2. I do think that at their core, most people are really good. I think that people who are not good were actually born good, but went through some really horrid shit along the way, causing them to lose faith and trust -- in themselves, and with other people, as well -- and therefore act out.

(See what I did there? I dropped an s-bomb. But in this particular case, I really do think it was the best word for the job.)

3. I absolutely, positively believe that all of us, each of us, has a superpower that if we were to tap into it, and use it for good and not evil, there's just no stopping us (see #2 above, related).

4. Photography has changed the way I look at people, things, places and even the mundane aspects of life, so that I really, truly believe that we all, and it all, is very, very, very beautiful. As long as what I'm looking at isn't the result of an evil act, or hatred, or bigotry, I can pretty much find the pretty in it. Which is quite awesome.

Okay! I'm happy to get that off my chest -- and I feel like I've come clean. It just took NaBloPoMo to do it.

Update, 12:12 p.m: I just realized that I totally spaced on giving you a song of the day today -- sorry! Since it's still Tuesday, I think I'm okay -- I haven't blown NaBloPoMo quite yet. Unfortunately for you, however, the song is Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, because I canNOT get that song out of my head today, no matter how hard I try -- and believe me, I've been trying.

See? I told you I have an ugly side.

nablopomo

Karen Walrond — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:45:59 +0000

A corner of my studio, photographed this afternoon. Nikon D300, 50mm lens.

I have been informed by many of the blogs I read that yesterday was the first day of NaBloPoMo -- That's "National Blog Posting Month," for those of you who might be unaware, where participants are challenged to post on their blogs every day for a month.

That's a lot of posting, peeps.

While I participated in this a few years ago, I've taken a break in recent times, because, I smugly thought to myself, I post pretty much 5 days a week as it is. Why should I push myself to do two more?

Because, I thought back to myself this year, I can.

Sometimes I annoy myself just by thinking. Do you ever do that?

Anyway, I've decided that I'm going to go ahead and post every day this month. This means that for every day during the month of November, there will be a new image and some accompanying words, along with a song of the day, including weekends, including holidays. This also necessarily means that you will likely be subjected to stream-of-consciousness thoughts, possible repeat music, and lots and lots of photographs of various nooks and crannies in my house. God help you.

If you'd like to help streamline my ramblings a bit, as always, feel free to ask questions in the comments, and I'll try to answer them as best I can as I go along.

And with that, tally-ho, the fox.

Song: Time to roll by Johnny Cash