Whoever you voted for...this is pretty cool. They put music to obama's speech

http://www.dipdive.com/

Thanks kelly...

Joel and I just got back from Colombia. Crazy willy nilly place with beautiful views, polite people, bad roads and lots of history.

Here are some pics taken by Chani. Yet ANOTHER great photographer friend. Our lives will always be well documented.

http://chanstermonsters.smugmug.com/gallery/4137825/17/241476174

Joel and I just got back from Colombia. Crazy willy nilly place with beautiful views, polite people, bad roads and lots of history.

Here are some pics taken by Chani. Yet ANOTHER great photographer friend. Our lives will always be well documented.

http://chanstermonsters.smugmug.com/gallery/4137825/17/241476174

THE THONG. This is what most of them feel like.
A wedge up the ARS, is fine. We ladies can live with that. But up the TACO? No thanks.
Can't anyone make a thong that has coverage in all the right places? Yes, yes, I know...Hanky Panky...but at 18 bucks a pop? For something that DOESN'T suck in, smooth, shape or lipo my trunk? At Body Gap today, I actually had this conversation with the sales lady. We actually compared the "floss" part of the thongs on all of the styles...all skinny, all wedgeful, all the way through the va jay jay (homage to Grey's Anatomy).

If I wanted that kind of pain, I'd just cover up with a piece of floss.

Out. Wow. Panty Rant. Now I've hit a new low.

WHY can't a girl get a piece of FRICKIN' candy corn a few days after Halloween?
Yes, I have an obsession. I was denied candy corn this year. And now I want some. No, scratch that. I want the candy pumpkins--known to OCD types like me everywhere as the Mellocreme Pumpkins.
I've searched 3 Rite-Aids and 4 Duane Reades, only to be shut out. The only thing they have are 1/2 off shelves of dusty witches, stale M&M peanuts and fugly baskets. Then I checked many bodegas. SURELY, on a dusty shelf somewhere, I can find a lone bag of candy corn, that's been left behind. Nope. Gone. All gone.

Now I'm left with only one option. Amazon.com. Yes, delivery. Of a bag of candy pumpkins that could be from the dreggs of candy society, the ANTI-Willy Wonka, the candy that didn't sell, the leftover bins of a warehouse left empty, but one box of candy corn. Stale? Perhaps. Dusty? Maybe. But that bag will be all mine.

I need serious help. Wait until you hear about the Bloomingdales Jean Scam.

Funny.

From the journal of photographer Andy Batt…
"Small beads of sweat, that knot in the gut, and occasional flashes of impending doom-photographer Andy Batt faced his most challenging assignment yet: a bus full of 3rd graders. Outnumbered and surrounded, he struggled valiantly with promises of cover shot fame. The 3rd graders, smelling weakness, went in for the kill. He woke up alone, lying on the ground covered in miniature footprints with camera in hand, and the cover shot glowing on the small screen. 'Andy' he said to himself, 'you may have lost the battle, but you've won the war.'"

Andy Batt is a Portland based nationally published photographer who loves what he does and loves where he lives. His work can be viewed at, andybatt.com

More amazing Burning Man pictures. Probably too many here. But be patient. This is a great display of the art installations, the art cars and the costumes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/loupiote/sets/432859/show/

One more, among many, amazing moments at Burning Man.

My husband. Super Burning Man! For more pics see Nikki's Flickr Site. Our pics coming soon...

Burning Man. Two hours north of Reno, NV 2007
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikkinikita/sets/72157601903909440

A sign?
Almost every morning while I sit in silence, reading my NY Times, eating my cereal, I hear this from below my window,
"Waaaahhhh, waaaahhhhh, waaaahhhh, Moooommmmmmyyyyyyyyy!"

Why is it that this boy's meltdown/tantrum is perfectly linked with my 10 minutes in the morning that I have, to chill, relax and enjoy the quiet in the house.

Is he strategically placed there as birth control?

Is there just something about our corner, that finally the Mom or Nanny decides to stop for a while, and try and reason with this child. While I read about Frank Rich's latest angry but brilliant tirade on the Bush Administration. (heads up: Read his son's new collection called, Ant Farm. That apple didn't fall far.)

Or is his schedule really that well timed with mine, just out of chance.

Let's hope the latter.

Dave Letterman:

"Good news--Osama Bin Laden's son, Omar, just got married. If you want to send the couple a wedding gift, they have all the pipe bombs they need. What they'd really could use, is a fondue set."

Surreal moment:
A dream feels so real, that when I wake up I’m depressed. For 3 ½ minutes.

It went something like this:

For some reason, the lead to Wilco, Jeff Tweedy and I are hiding under a bed from someone. No idea why. I literally feel like I’ve been dropped into the middle of a movie. Through strange dream time lapse, Jeff Tweedy and I end up falling in love. While hiding under the bed? Why not.

Side note: Jeff Tweedy. Have I ever had a crush on him in real life? Never. He’s one of those guys who’s oddly attractive, but only on stage crooning that voice. Yes, a soulful sad voice. End, side note.

So, we hang out, do in love things. Nope not a sex dream, just in love things. Well, maybe there was some dry humping, but dreams vanish, and it’s always tough to tell if I’m rewriting the dream in that small compartment called Memory Retrieval. Then I tell Jeff that I’m going to take a shower. When I’m done, I realize that the shower is in a van. (It’s a dream, people.) And the van is in neutral and has been driving itself around highways, Knight Rider style. But, not in a “I’m Kit, I have things under control Michael” sort of way. It’s amazing that I have survived while showering in my van. Because I almost hit many cars, people and birds.

And then I wake up. Never to see Jeff Tweedy again. I keep my eyes closed. Maybe I can take over the van and drive back to him. Maybe he’ll wait. Maybe I can tour with him.

That never works. I’m awake. I’m home. I have to go to work. How depressing.

And then I realize I’m already married to a rock star, and with a much cooler name.

Open Space Retraction

Open Space at Work:

1. Forces you to be social, come out of your shell, talk to people you would never encounter.

2. Catches you up on current events that you were trying to avoid, but then realize you can’t because we are cultural sponges and need always to KNOW.

3. Makes you realize that you are not a robot at a computer in a box inside a bigger box.

4. Forces you out of the hole when sometimes you want to hide.

5. Makes you realize you are a coward for ever wanting to hide. Thus, makes you stronger, speak up more, and have the mental balls to ask for what you need.

6. Makes you give into your human need to be nosy.

7. Makes the human need to be nosy, a human right.

8. Inspires you to start new conversations. With the mailman. With anyone you wouldn't.

9. Forces you to invest in much better headphones.

10. Get the dirt. Get the gossip. Get the goods.*

11. Makes people work more together, instead of isolated in a hole. *

12. Let’s the sunshine in and not contained inside a cement wall. Walls never appreciate sun like people inside offices.

13. Actually SEE the work be created that’s coming out of the agency

14. Forces the inner uber productive robot inside that obsessively needs things to get done, to just, relax.

* Thank you Daniela
* Thank you Tom

11/30/06
Corner Rant:

Funny, no office, and sometimes I still feel like a trapped, caged animal. I run to be free, and still that doesn’t help. Maybe the low grade headache has to do with the pressure coming in around me…to:
Always be on, always be smiling, always try and tune out all the noise.

How does anyone really do any work in this place? There is constant chaos. No quiet moments to think. Always socializing. Always people around, on the left side, on the right side, behind, standing, hovering, floating, like bees, buzzing. Like the mosquito in the middle of the night, that you know is feeding on you, each time it buzzes in your ear. You smack it, helplessly knowing that doesn’t help. It still feeds. If only you had the strength to get up, turn the lights on and kill it. But, you doze off again, only to be woken up by the buzzing.

The constant buzzing. This is the downfall of the modern open space. This is what the future will write about, when they speak of the early part of the century. “do you believe, that people sat inches apart from each other and worked right on top of each other? Do you believe there were no doors? Do you believe, anyone get anything done?” and I will say, I was there in that open space. I was there, and tried to work. It wasn’t easy. But maybe it made me focus. Maybe it made me better. Or just the opposite.

The buzzing. It distracts the average ADD afflicted creative. Here’s a thought. Put creatives in a room, that have trouble concentrating…then see what happens. REALLY challenge them…with the sounds of tv reels in the air, chatter, gossip, coffee machines, dishes, loud headphones, more chatter, cell phones, a/c units, and more. The low din. The noise you don’t even know is there. That in the end is what might drive us mad. Because we can’t identify it. Block it out, because we DON’T know where its coming from….

Ok, my pms haze…is it lifting? Am I safe? To face? The world?

Not just yet. I’ll hide here a bit longer in from the emergency exit door. Funny. All these doors have little green men on them running outside. To remind us, that it’s possible to break free. If we ever needed to. Thanks green man. Just knowing you’re there helps, guides, makes mentally, this open space CAGE possible. By tearing down walls CEO’s want to make us more communal, more creative, together.
But I think it backfires.

It’s only when we have time alone, can we really appreciate, and take advantage of a communal state.

Down with the open space. Bring back the offices…

If you're ever having a bad day, think about who's in your life.
That is what makes the day, happier, richer, and I will stop before sounding like a bad hallmark.

If you're having a bad day, view the photobooth series again. It makes me laugh. EVERY TIME I look at it. What the camera will do to people! It was said best by Andy:
"What's funny, is BEHIND the people having their picture taken!" I paraphrase.

Thanks again, Andy and Therese!

http://andybatt.com/lightroom/20060916_bloomking_photobooth/

The wedding pics have arrived!!!

Photobooth pics:

http://andybatt.com/lightroom/20060916_bloomking_photobooth/

And the whole shabang...

http://andybatt.com/offsite/20060916_bloomking_wedding/index.htm

Twice in a month, oh yeah. BlogCity. This is just a quickie. Meg's pictures were so great from the wedding, I just had to share.
(You don't have to join shutterfly to view...)

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AYtG7Zs1ZM2NO

The Bloom King Wedding

http://flickr.com/photos/51035747468@N01/

The only way to truly capture it will be with pictures, which are coming VERY soon. Promise. But here are two for a taste. The next way to capture is by using my fav. quotes from emails and other random thoughts.

From Geoff Rogers:
-"Thanks, Joel. I have not cried like that since my initial viewing of "First Blood."
-"Miguel FALLS DOWN while streaking? We are getting old."

Kelly Morris:
"I just remembered what you said about being happy being old in that house there with joel 10 minutes before he popped the question. That was fantastic."

"I know a movie is good when I just mull over it again and again for the next day, week, month, etc. Maybe cause it’s serious, maybe cause it was sad, maybe cause it made me feel great- whatever, cause it touched me, I remember. And I feel like your wedding was like that. I’m just mulling over again and again."

Thanks guys...there are no greater compliments than ones from friends you admire and respect. My own reactions?

-Is it over, already?
-Tapas plates, tapas plates, WTF is going on?
-Mmmm, deviled eggs
-Having a Romper Room moment, while standing up there, beginning of ceremony...looking out and seeing all the faces of amazing people in our lives.
-Having my girls reassure me, that yes, I look great. And yes, they can fix my bra. And yes, they can get me another glass of wine. Precious.
-Speech from Gpa, in case anyone missed it, "To keep your love brimming in the loving cup, there are 2 things to remember. When you're wrong, admit it. When you're right, shut up!"
-Streak.
-Photo booth.
-More streak. Too bad, the photo booth didn't catch the streak.
-Smithers, "And I haven't been the same since."
-Jude, no truer words ever said. And I danced for you?
-Papparazzi moment
-Andy, Therese, the most calming photographers on the planet. Nope. Galaxy.
-Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?
-Yuengling
-Walk like and Eqyptian
-As Joel fell in love me with me "all over again", I heard his words and fell for him again too. Words, powerful words.
-And then when he used his gymnastic skill to hurdle four men, I FELL again.

Anyone has anything to add, feel free to post. THANK you all for coming...it was what it was because of you. Sorry I got only about 4.9 minutes with you. And for those who couldn't, you were missed. But, live vic. through pictures....

Love, Ms. King Bloom/ Bloom King/ King (That'll confuse the kids teachers someday.)

Who inspires us most?

Our friends. Every day. Why should I bring this up? It's been ages since I've written in this blog. REALLY, what's the point in having it if I don't rant. That's the name isn't it? King Rants.

It's because of Miguel, that I have been inspired again to write. (See his blog at http://www.againagain.blogspot.com/). He writes all the time. Sometimes with just a link, a pic, a note, a thought. No pressure. This is how to blog.

Blogging has so much pressure.
I have to be pithy, lengthy, intelligent. Nope, not really.
I have to make a statement, post pictures, rant really really rant-like. Nope, again.

Why today? Inspiration. There's a new movie coming out this summer called, "Who Killed the Electric Car?" Go the site to see the trailer (http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/electric.html). It's an amazing site. (check out the timeline. Electric Cars were invented BEFORE the Model T) It's informative and infuriating. It has all the makings of a whodunnit. Now that I'm freelancing on Chevron, I've been consumed with the oil and car industry. The environment. The past, the present and the future administrations who have tried to help (Carter) and not help (um, Village Idiot?).

Let me leave this nugget with you. Maybe it will intrigue you to go to the site.
GM was the leader in Electric Cars with the creation of the EV1. They beat out Toyota and Honda in the mid-90's. But, then they bought the company that made Hummers. Ooops, well, Hummers will ultimately make more money for the company and the oil industry. Suddenly GM decided to stop making the EV1. Sad, so sad...I sometimes like my world of turning the other way. After watching "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" and researching this Electric Car site, I'm first angry, then depressed at the situation today. Even, (Geoff Rogers), if HALF of what they movies talk about is true, it's still a sad sad state of affairs...

OK, so this was a Rant Rant, and a Debbie Downer at that. But, hey, sometimes learning is fun. And sometimes not so much.

December 2005. Joel accepts JC into his life. A star is born.

A trip back to Portland made us wonder all weekend long, "Why did we leave?" The most amazing people we will ever know all in the same city. Thanks for the snow on the mountain and the skiing, yes Geoff. Thanks for sleepovers in fancy houses, all of you in your fancy houses. Thanks for Jambalaya, A&T. Thanks for parties with Nativity scenes and dinners with samosas. Thanks for just being the Portland folk you are. Never change. And take it from us, NEVER LEAVE.
We miss you. Happy all that stuff...
The King Blooms. Or should it be...The Bloom Kings.