bethofalltrades

Okay, y'all. kylecassidy is GIVING AWAY a really sweet lens to a yet-to-be-chosen impoverished photographer. FREE LENS. Details here.

Every now and then, I'm reminded that there are a few amazing, generous, incredibly good people in the world--and somehow I've been lucky enough to befriend many of them.

Love,
Beth

ps - Kyle's post also makes me think about what's wrong with MY art career (answer: what art career?), my lack of organization and direction with regards to my art, and my absolutely paralyzing fear at beginning anything.

Sars from Tomato Nation has this to say about crying on the street.

On April 20th, 2004, I was on a University of Pittsburgh North Oakland shuttle, crying my eyes out, trying to ignore the exuberant girl sitting next to me who was chattering to her friends.

She was small-- about the size of the 12 year old girl-- but full of energy, hands darting about, voice loud and far too low for her small size. Her hair was dyed Manic Panic red and she was a little bit punk, a little bit defiant.

As the bus neared my stop, she said "Well, it's probably sexual harrassment, but fuck it" and then she hugged me, hard.

Years later, I saw a stranger crying on the subway, so I sat down next to her and offered her my hand.

She took it.

There are people who are in our lives for bare seconds, yet leave impressions that do not fade.

To think of the reverse, that we might have similar impacts on those we meet, is almost too terrifying to comprehend.

Love,
Beth

So. I am trapped on a bus. Someone shut the door to the bathroom hard and now we are all locked out. The power outlets are not working so I can't be working either.

I am craving human connection. Ask me anything in the comments and I will answer. Help me while away the next few hours.

Love,
Beth

The haiku post (deleted when I realized the non haiku post went through.)

i'm hating this bus
craving human connection
ask me anything?

Okay, answers:

1. My comfort foods are pasta with sauce from a jar, sweet potatoes and my mom's carrot cake. And watermellon. Watermellon always makes me ridiculously happy.

2. The thing I miss most about Pittsburgh, other than my parents, is half price late night food. All the places around campus had half off everything after 11pm which was right around when I'd get done with rehearsals. Usually a big group of us would go.

3. The first time I though "wow, I'm an adult" was when I moved to New York and became completely self-sufficient. The first time I thought "wow, being an adult offers the incredible opportunity to act like a child--with impunity!" was when I took my top off at Rothbury. My reasoning was, "why not?"

4. If I could be anywhere, I would be in Pittsburgh with Moogie. Or in London with Amanda and Steven. Or LA with Lizzie. Because all four of these people are good huggers.

5. If I could be a fly on the wall anywhere at any time, I'd want to use that power to solve a mystery. I'd want to be in the plane when Amelia Earhart went down, or there in 1988 when that little girl with the odd name went missing outside Pittsburgh.

More as they roll in! This is way fun. I feel better already.

Love,
Beth

The good: we stopped at a rest stop.
The bad: my ipod slipped out of my back pocket and fell in the toilet.

Today is not my day.

On a happier note, I really like this game:

6. When did I fall in love with music? Well, a confession: I didn't. I am not what you would call "into" music. But there is some music that trancends the fact that I am Not a Music Person. The first album that really struck me was Everybody Else Is Doing It (so why can't we) by the Cranberries. But my Cranberries thing started because I saw them perform on SNL, and it was about the whole package, not just the actual music.

7. The first time I truly felt like I was in a movie was when I was a junior or senior in college. I was out with my friend Meg in her car and another car pulled up beside us and the passenger called, "hey ladies! Do you want a Redbull?". Then five minutes later we were driving down Craig street and two guys jaywalked in front of us carrying a Subway sign.

When I was a little girl, I thought that people watched me the way I watched the kids on Sesame Street, so I guess you could say my life has ALWAYS felt like a movie.

8. Sean, I never downloaded the program to let me IM on my BB. But now I will. Because I am saaaad.

Love,
Beth