Talk Box

Photo Group UPDATE

Laa — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:54:04 GMT

OK beautiful people! We're getting this thing going soon... As you all know, King Richard's Faire is rolling back in starting in September through October. Dio and I would like to do a shoot there, and we would like you to come. We haven't picked a date yet, we would like something that works for most of you (and is not a WF weekend). I was hoping September, but October will work too... What you should need if you want to be in/at the shoot. 1. A costume! King Rich's Faire is by no means period accurate, but it is set in 16th century England, if you want to keep that in mind. But again, not accurate means pirates, faeries, wizards, and things like that are fair game if you are so inclined. (Dio and I are planning to be gypsies, if anyone wants in on that.) 2. A camera! If you want to take pictures, bring your camera. You can dress up and bring a camera. You can not dress up and bring a camera. Choice is yours. 3. Yourself! If you just want to chill, help direct shots, or have a fun day, come along. More the merrier. (Especially since it'll be nice to have wranglers to keep modern dressed people out of our shots!) 4. Money! For admission and food, if you want to eat in the faire. (Otherwise, you can pack a lunch and eat outside the faire, as I think they still allow that.) Also, costume rentals if you're so inclined. NOTE: Not all of these photo events will cost money, and we will be doing some in Boston and areas accessible by public transport, but this is just too much fun to pass up.) We have plenty of time to get the ball rolling on this, and more info will be up in the tribe (once we make it...what should we call it?). So let us know! Are you in? When is good for you? Oh, and cross post a link to this wherever you'd like. :)

A proposal for you, my fine friends...

Laa — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:32:47 GMT

(FEEL FREE TO X-POST THIS EVERYWHERE OR LINK TO THIS POST!!!) Dio and I were discussing themed photo shoots last night, and we came to the realization that we know lots of very cool people with very cool wardrobes, so we propose this concept to you fine people... Would anyone be interested in gathering together, say, once a month, to do a huge themed photo shoot? Perhaps mermaids and drowned sailors on the beach? Pirates at the harbor? A big Renaissance shoot at King Richard's Faire? A zombie shoot for Halloween? A mock band shoot at a club or empty performance space. All this would require from you is for you to show up with a costume (or a camera) and some hours of your time to have a lot of fun. All the photos would be shared, and this would be a community thing. Just for fun, because we can. We can all pick a theme together. The more people we can get to do this, the better the shoot will be. (And the more people with connections we can get, the better the shooting locations!) Obviously, this is just to drum up interest. So who's in?

Dance

Laa — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:09:02 GMT

I've been thinking about possibly taking some very beginner dance classes to help facilitate my flow with my spinning toys (flow wand specifically). I'm kind of shying away form belly dance, since a lot of people do that. I was thinking something a bit more fluid and free form. Any one have a good idea of where to start looking in the Boston area?

Dare to dream?

Laa — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:18:55 GMT

For the children in my life, and the children at heart... http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/ Disney's new teaser trailer for the first fully 2-D animated film (hand drawn vs computer) in years, The Princess and the Frog, just came out. While part of me is elated that a 2-D film in the old tradition is being made again, I can't help but feel a bit of apprehension. Animation is my profession, my passion, and my life. Disney especially. I grew up on a dream of working for Disney one day. I took classes in animation, even some at Disney. I got applications for internships. I took years of classical art training. I saw every animated film, Disney or otherwise, faithfully. I loved it, lived it and owned it. The I went to college for it. I went to college for animation having every intention of graduating and applying to Disney's Animation Department. And halfway through college Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, started by the man who created the first fully animated feature film, closed. It abandoned everything it was at it's core. You see, computer animated films were coming out, and making lots of money, and in a very stupid mistake, they assumed that the reason that traditionally animated films weren't selling were because 3-D was the next 'big thing'. Dreamworks 2-D Feature Department closed. Warner Brothers 2-D Feature Department closed. The Disney closed. They abandoned the pencil and paper for a computer. There's watching your dreams die because you forgot to feed them. Because they got sick or old and couldn't keep up with you anymore. This was like watching your dreams die by being shot point blank in the face right in front of you. (I hate that Pixar is blamed for this too...Pixar did nothing except make breathtakingly beautiful films with good stories at the core. That's the basis of any good entertainment, a good story! Computers had nothing to do with it. I think Disney lost sight of this along the way.) Now, years later...I work in animation. I work in television animation, drawing on a computer, because that's one of the last ways you can do that unless you live and work in Asia. And Disney is coming back and saying 'here...dream again. Have a little hope'. And I'm afraid of it. I'm afraid it's going to be taken away from me again, and I don't want to trust it. I know the expectations of this film, and I know just how spectacular it has to be in order for there to be any consideration, any glimmer of hope of there being another 2-D feature... ...and I don't think Disney has it in them anymore.

:P

Laa — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:34:29 GMT

http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=3011 Note: I know this is fake, but it doesn't make it any less funny.

Finding my flow

Laa — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:47:03 GMT

I seem to be getting the hang of this flow wand thing. Stupid me burnt myself on the 4th. (Yay! First somewhat serious fire spinning burn!) I'm not mad at or afraid of my staff, and have spun it both lit and unlit since then, but I'm giving it some time in it's bag to think about what it did (and to give my wrist a break) before taking it out again. Which gave me some time to get jiggy with my flow wand! I love my flow wand! (I have a huge set of photos courtesy of Dio that will eventually find their way onto Flickr once we catch up and send out the thousands of pictures we have to get through.) I really haven't had anyone seriously compliment my performance with my toys at spin jam until last night. It felt really good. Now I just need to get one that either lights up or lights on fire and I'm set! Booyah!

<3

Laa — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:54:17 GMT

Thank you for kind words and support. I felt it, I really, really did. Friday night was a dose of much needed medicine (despite the burn). And Dio and I had us time...for the first time in a long, long while. Just the two of us on the beach and walking around. No stress, no expectations, no one to see. It was good. The world looks brighter now. Love you all.

Jam?

Laa — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:20:45 GMT

Ok, here's the deal...I'm working really, really hard to try and get all my work done for deadline before 6 tonight...but Spin Jam is a 50/50 deal right now. Send me love and luck and uppers and I might just squeak by. EDIT: As of 4:45PM I have finished all my work! Spin Jam, here I come!

MIA

Laa — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:55:10 GMT

In case anyone is wondering... I have a really terrible deadline on Monday. My days have been filled with intense pressure, and I've returned home drained and mentally battered each night this week. This is one of the main reasons I haven't hit up spin jam this week. I just don't want anyone to think I've been snubbing wither them or jam. I miss you guys and want to work on my contact staff!!!

Proof that the universe is cruel...

Laa — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:13:27 GMT

I have had the most massive art block... In an attempt to taunt me, and make me accept my geekdom, I believe that the universe made me unable to draw anything until Dio and I finally got our 4th edition D&D books. I can draw fine now, dammit! I hate you, universe...

Whooo, validation!

Laa — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:03:36 GMT

The show I work on, Word Girl, won an Emmy for writing. Check it out!!! We just had a geek out session where we all got to hold it and act like idiots. Quite fun! (Just a side note: This isn't mine. Technically, it was won by one specific writer, but we like to think it was a team effort all around.)

A little smile

Laa — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:32:40 GMT

Things like this make me really, really happy. http://www.youtube.com/v/zlfKdbWwruY&hl=en

WildFire

Laa — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:22:27 GMT

WildFire was spectacular. Honestly, it really was. I learned a lot, and made some great connections. Every class I took was really well done, and I tried to take advantage of every lesson, even if it was one I had already learned. (Intro classes are great for brushing up with your off hand!) Granted, there are things that can be improved or streamlined, but honestly, for all the nit picking you could do, it was a good time. It's a lot easier to give a critique than a compliment. One amazing thing I found this weekend was my ability to start teaching myself. Granted, for the most part I can figure out things, but I'm starting to figure out how to connect contact staff moves that I've seen without any instruction. I chock it up to practicing when I can and finally seeing a bit of improvement. Being able to string contact moves together is showing me the flow and joy of that particular style, but I still think I would like to try a fusion of the two more than anything. I also really enjoyed fire tending. (Though on reflection, I got a little overzealous and frazzled, and I am sorry about that. It's NOT going to happen again if I can help it. Next time I'm going to just do my best at managing things my way, and not trying to assimilate those around me.) Poor behavior on my part aside, I really feel at home and comfortable with my hands in a fire. It's a good feeling. Kind of like wielding the biggest toys on the field. I know this summarization is a bit lackluster and awkward. I'm still decompressing. The aches and pains of a weekend of physical activity have set in full force, but it's a happy sort of aching and fatigue. Nothing a few nights of really good sleep won't fix. But yes, WF = good time. So much so that I am taking a day or two off without pay to go to the next one.

Bwahahaha

Laa — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:00:50 GMT

As if I wasn't mediocre at everything I all ready do... I am learning how to breathe fire...and spin double staff...and have stopped neglecting poi, somewhat. (Though simultaneously hitting myself in the cheek and the knee cap reminded me why I like my staff so much more.) My life overfloweth with good teachers in abundance.

My congratulations to Keith Olbermann

Laa — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:26:12 GMT

If you haven't seen or heard this, please do. This is beautiful, and I'm so glad someone else besides me said it. http://youtube.com/watch?v=h013lSAypt8&feature=related and the end of it, with a bit of overlap... http://youtube.com/watch?v=hrDnpYDQauw&feature=related I might not agree with anything else he says, but this was incredible.

Crisis Averted

Laa — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:41:17 GMT

Dio and I talked about it, we're planning to go to Burning Man next year. That way we'll have time to prepare instead of rushing in the next three months. The more I read, the more I am convinced waiting a year is the best thing. I am nowhere even remotely ready to embark on an adventure that big...yet. Let the preperations begin!

The Man

Laa — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:42:17 GMT

Today I was massively overwhelmed with the urge to see him this year. For the first time ever, I have this all consuming urge to go to Burning Man. Where the hell did that come from? Burning Man?!? I'm terrified of Burning Man. Terrified. And I can't stop thinking about it. I have shivers thinking about it. I am nowhere prepared for this thought, let alone a trip of this magnitude. You can't just decided to go in May. You can't do that....gah! Someone either talk me out of it or take me, cause I'm totally out of my mind right now.

Mighty!

Laa — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:21:48 GMT

Someone sent me this today. http://laa.youaremighty.com/ If you type in any name in the url (even fake ones) it customizes the message.

Burn, baby, burn!

Laa — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:34:28 GMT

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EFreG7Hyr-4

Earth Hour

Laa — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:39:19 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_c5K7Jdw9E From 8-9PM, they are encouraging people worldwide to turn off their lights for one hour to help make a statement and ease global warmong. One hour isn't much, but it's a start. I think this is a great thing for the communtiy to be aware of and participate in.

I'm up! I'm up!

Laa — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:04:47 GMT

I think I'm awake. Hibernation time is over! Whooooooo!

25

Laa — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:01:53 GMT

I ask a favor of you, my lovelies. For any of you into numbers, is there any special signifigance or meaning associated with the number 25?

Art Challenge - Laa edition

Laa — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:29:10 GMT

Borrowed from Lotus! If you haven't seen it, here is how it works. If you are one of the first three people to sign up on this blog, you get one piece of art made by me for you. (I'll even let you pick what you want.) The fine print....then you have to do the same thing. Post a blog and offer to make three pieces of art for whoever wants one from you. Love, Laa

Blessed

Laa — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:42:10 GMT

You know, I must have started and deleted over several entries over the past few days, but in light of the events developing within the community, and in listening to my heart, I couldn't post any of them. Now is just not the time. Instead, I feel that I should just express a feeling of love and gratitude to my Tribe and family. The collective strength and grace of this group of remarkable people amazes me every day, and I'm blessed to have every one of you in my live.

Woah, crossover!

Laa — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:30:43 GMT

So one of my friends posted this in her livejournal blog, and I though I'd post it over here as well... Comment with something you'd like to see from my life, and I willl post photos of it (to the best of my ability).