Snapshots From An Unmade Bed

Flashback to the early 1970s

Flashback to the early 1970s
Originally uploaded by SnapshotsUnmade.

I am flying from Dallas to JFK tomorrow and then on to Sayville, Long Island. I will be visiting Pops (my grandfather). My mother is flying out today so it will be nice to be there with her as well and to see my Aunt and other relatives that might be around. I am hoping to get to see the beach and walk in the sand ! Something I find soothing about being near the ocean...

I had to post some childhood pics that I scanned in. I was actually born in Queens, NY but grew up in Long Island, well until I was about 8 when we moved to Texas. I guess that is why I have always felt akin to this part of the world.

The top one is me with my grandparents at my first communion. The one below is me (middle) with my brother and my cousin Kathy. Check out those duds - wasn't I just a coordinated little fashionista! *lol* I just love the look of old pics and their texture.

Have a great weekend and I will see ya next week....(and hopefully a link to some pics since I am surely bringing my camera!)

Books + Literature

The next two weeks are going to be busy with work and travel so I am probably not going to keep up with daily posting but will do what I can.

I decided on the books I will take for my two trips. Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner and A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. I might also bring along The Accidental by Ali Smith. It is always good to have a few choices, right? And of course we will have our handy Lonely Planet Guide to The Bay Islands.

This Saturday I am flying to Long Island (via JFK) to see my grandfather and some of my family. It will be good to see him and be away from Dallas for a few days. I fly back next Tuesday. 

Three days later we are off for our week long trip to Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras! We are staying at Utopia Village. A bit of spa pampering, snorkelling and perhaps a trip over to La Ceiba on the mainland. And let us not forget - plenty of relaxing!

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I just had to share a link to one of the most beautiful bookstores I have ever seen. It is a far cry from Dallas but this amazing bookstore is found in a famous Buenos Aires theater that was built in 1919. Talk about a book lover's slice of heaven!

Random Cool

Green Living - there is a great little store I was reading about in Brooklyn, NY called 3R Living. They deal in future friendly products and you can shop at their store online.

Art + Escape - are you dreaming of white sand beaches and blue azure water but also want to indulge in creativity?  Michelle Torrez (renowned painter) is teaching a workshop in St. John's (U.S. Virgin Islands). Would be a great getaway for October....

Photography - so where does a shutterbug like me dream of studying photography? I recently came across The International Center for Photography located in New York. With over 400 courses - this school, museum and library has everything a photo junkie like me could need!  Did I mention they also have travel programs? Argentina anyone?

Of course I have not forgotten the Maine Workshops. I am definitely going to get myself to one of their summer workshops!

inside SPIN

Well, I sort of skipped over the Books + Literature section this week because I didn't have much to report. I have to admit as well that I am feeling a little lazy this week as far as music recommendations so instead, I decided to list the Top 25 songs from the year I graduated high school. That would be 1986 (ouch!). Very interesting to take a look back.....

1. That's What Friends Are For, Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight
2. Say You, Say Me, Lionel Richie 
3. I Miss You, Klymaxx 
4. On My Own , Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald 
5. Broken Wings, Mr. Mister
6. How Will I Know, Whitney Houston 
7. Party All The Time, Eddie Murphy 
8. Burning Heart, Survivor 
9. Kyrie, Mr. Mister 
10. Addicted To Love, Robert Palmer 
11. Greatest Love Of All, Whitney Houston 
12. Secret Lovers, Atlantic Starr 
13. Friends And Lovers, Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring 
14. Glory Of Love, Peter Cetera 
15. West End Girls, Pet Shop Boys 
16. There'll Be Sad Songs, Billy Ocean 
17. Alive And Kicking, Simple Minds 
18. Never, Heart 
19. Kiss, Prince and The Revolution 
20. Higher Love, Steve Winwood
21. Stuck With You, Huey Lewis and The News 
22. Holding Back The Years, Simply Red 
23. Sledgehammer, Peter Gabriel 
24. Sara, Starship 
25. Human, Human League 

If you want to see the top songs from any year (they list them out as a 100) go to Music Outfitters and in the search menu type in they year you want to see listed.

The Arts

Vortex, by Richard Serra
Originally uploaded by SnapshotsUnmade.

As much as I would like to see the Richard Serra sculpture exhibit in New York at the MoMA, I will have to settle for the next best thing - the online experience.  They have done a wonderful job of giving virtual tourists a way to view the exhibit online. 

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If you are into the art of journaling you will really enjoy this site: Journal Revolution. A scrapbooker's heaven.

Books + Music + Film

I have been thinking about what books to bring along for our holiday to Honduras (I am getting excited...3 weeks and counting). 

We are reading A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry for the October book group (and NO I don't mean the Oprah Book Club!!) so I will certainly pack that along with me. I also decided to order a copy of Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner (which comes highly recommended by Iliana). I might bring along a third - any suggestions for great holiday reading?

As for Music -- I do have some recommendations but I will post that next week. I am excited about going to see the Cary Brothers at House of Blues Friday with my friend Amy. Should be a good night!

As for movies, I decided to watch a few on Apple trailers and I have a pretty good list of "must see" -

Lars and the Real Girl
Dedication
The Darjeeling Limited
Into the Wild
2 days in Paris
Jane Austen Book Club
Dans Paris
Goya's Ghost
August Rush

and one more - Rendition

The Arts

I can't believe it is already Monday. The weekends are never long enough, are they? And when you have a good weekend it makes it that much harder to jump back into the work week!

I spoke to my grandfather yesterday and he sounded really good. I look forward to seeing him in two weeks.

As for a few tidbits of things art related:

Susan Meiselas - there is an interesting article in the NY Times regarding this Magnum photographer. She is best known for her coverage of the insurrection in Nicaragua and her documentation of human rights issues in Latin America. You can view more of her work here.

Artlex - an art dictionary that has definitions for more than 3,600 terms used in discussing art and visual culture, along with thousands of supporting images, pronunciation notes, great quotations and cross-references.  This one will probably come in handy!

Vistas Latino Film Festival - this will take place the week of September 19-23rd. Information should be available closer to the festival.

In the end, everything simply began.

In the end, everything simply began.
Originally uploaded by SnapshotsUnmade.

I can't take credit for the title, that must go to Ali Smith. But it fits perfectly today. Those words. The way I feel.

Last night I found out that my grandfather (my mother's father) has cancer in one of his lungs just after a year of fighting a heart attack and more health issues that followed - those things that happen when your body begins to break down, gets tired and gets older.

The news isn't very positive and we are not sure if anything can be done. We have that small tinge of hope but we also know we need to prepare....

I booked a flight to New York today (Sayville, Long Island) for Labor Day weekend. My mom will be there as well. We need that time with him since we don't know really how much time is left.

I feel incredibly sad. I want more time. I want things to be different but that is just not how it works.

It is supposed to get easier, this acceptance of death and the inevitable. But I don't think it ever does. Not for me, anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I am keeping some hope. I will keep it in pocket fulls. I am also counting my blessings....

But most of all. Right now.

I think about my Pops and I miss him now more than ever.

Books + Literature

OK - the good news:

I made it through an entire book. It has only taken me a year to crack the reading slump but I managed it last week. What a relief! 

The book that brought me back: Austenland. This was a quick read but I really enjoyed it. We are talking major chick-lit and fluff but Shannon Hale's writing style is entertaining and I like how she parallel's the events at Pembrook Park to the plots and characters from Jane Austen's novels. If you are in the mood for a modern twist on Jane Austen and Mr. Darcy than you will certainly enjoy this read.

I have my (Foreign Authors) book group tonight and we are talking about The Book Thief.  Admittedly, I have not quite finished this book (had to go back to the library) but I am looking forward to the discussions and hearing what people thought about the book. The story is very good so far and uniquely told. I have a copy (thanks to my husband) so I will have the chance to finish.....

Next month will be nomination night and I need to start thinking of books to suggest for this. Our book for October is A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. I am really happy about this because I began reading it a few years ago in England and only made it about half way through (it is a long book 600+ pages). It is a wonderful story I really enjoyed the characters so I am glad to get back to this story.

The Arts + Books & Literature

I had a pretty busy weekend catching up on crafty things. I finished my soldering projects for the most part - bookmark and pendant (I just need to add a jump ring to the pendant) and I even handcrafted a frame with some soldering for a friend who is entering a competition.  The frame was a fun project and something I am considering for my own photographs in the future!

I also started working on my photographs from a recent trip to museums in Fort Worth.

I had a nice weekend and it looks to be a busy week.  I am behind but hopefully catching up....

Hustler of Culture - this is a featured Tyepad blog.  Cultural happenings around cities in the U.S. and abroad.