I invite you to swing over to my friend Christine’s blog, Quasi Agitato, to read my guest post entitled #Heaven in which I get to chat a bit about my #love of #Instagram and my favorite #s … Be sure to read some of her posts; absolutely brilliant!
By the way – I haven’t posted on here in a while. Sorry! That damn thing called “work” is getting in the way of so much fun stuff! Stay tuned though, I’ve got some edits I’m working on and lots of thoughts I’m ready to share.
xoxo
Christine
A short while ago, Paul and I went to NYC and in our walking journey around The City we passed by the building in which I had my first apartment. Different restaurant downstairs but still the same – 22nd & 7th. It would be cool if I still had that place!
I have one tiny dolphin tattoo; my sisters and I share the “same one.” My dad drew the picture and we went together to all get the same design. Kind of a sister bonding thing. Well fast forward 20-ish years later and I am now semi-covered in ink. Each piece tells a particular, often poignent story. My friends Sean Rhodes and Kris Dilworth of Tough Luck Tattoo have been the ones to put my stories into image across the landscape of my body. (Oh click on a pic to see it larger!). Peace & happy tattooing!
On occasion I’m stuck inside: weather, kids, working at home, boredom, comfort, solice, peace, chores … whatever. Just a few shots as of late from times when I’ve been stuck inside.
PS – that bike is waiting to come off the wall until the weather is sure to be nicer more consistently. I am not a cold and/or rainy weather rider!
When I was little I wanted to be an ice skater, “like Dorothy Hamill.” Hell I even had the hair cut so as to look the part. I wanted to be a artist like my Grandma Durst. I wanted to be a doctor like my Dad. Today I am still that misdirected dreamer that I was at 10 years old. The truth is – I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. Today I dream of my photography, having an art gallery of my own, or maybe being an “art teacher.” But art these days doesn’t pay the rent (did it ever?). So sometimes still I think – forget it – I’m just going to be a dog trainer. Dogs are cool – even the grumpy ones. And I am a behavior specialist after all …
When I sit to write – I generally have something really witty and funny to say about the nuttiness that is my life. But my fingers get going and my thoughts get a whirling. Then I get all reflective and thinky. When I write – it is the only time I have to think. When I shoot – it is the only moment I have to stop. That’s why I love photography and writing so much. They fit. (oh – the slideshow is at the bottom if you don’t want to read all this!)
I suppose that statement might reflect my attitude about the New Year ahead. With each new year that passes I say, “this year is going to be a good year.” There are and will be amazing moments. But as anyone who knows me knows – a lot of shit happens in our lives. Not unusual to give me a call and I say, “Good. Well I’m following the ambulance up to the hospital. No I can talk – the EMS guy is driving.” Haha – that has really happened.
I gift I have is to look back and remember only the good or find the funny in the not-so-funny in the moment kind of situation. “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” But you know what? I would not trade it for the life of me. I must be an idealist or an optimist or a masochist of something.
You know if I could fix things for my children and make their “problems disappear” or take them all on myself, I would. I might have a potty mouth (forget might!) and I might not be Mom of the Year but I know I am the best mother for them. And I hope my amazing kids learn that despite their challenges – to keep moving forward. To move onward & look upward. To keep smiling and laughing. To keep fighting and trying. To keep love in their lives. And I suppose more than anything – to embrace that which makes them unique. I don’t want them to have to wait until they’re old like me to finally like who they are.
I am still a mess I guess. I’m weird. Strange. Different. Eccentric. Erudite. All those words you apply to someone who just lives life a little against the grain. And so too are my kids. I’m glad for that and someday they will be to. But it won’t be until well after high school (because we all know being “different” in middle school and high school SUCKS!).
When life gets a little overwhelming for me. And when I feel like I’ve made all the wrong decisions – I look up at the sky and I see something beautiful and I am in awe and I dissolve into that moment. The self-doubt disappears and there is just that moment…
Here’s to a New Year and braving the storms with laughter and love. Here’s to my children for making me a better woman. Here’s to photography and writing for giving me freedom. Here’s to my family, my friends, and my Paul. Here’s to moving forward, cherishing the good things, and looking upward…
I love this cat. This is the one that transformed me from a “not a cat person” into thinking I want a kitty all for meself. Simply gorgeous and too boot simply the coolest there is.
Dig original art? Think it’s beyond your budget? If you’re local (or even if you’re not), come check out the work of some great photogs and pick up something original just in time for the holidays peeps! I will be showing some work too. The whole thing is going to be awesome. And if you’re not local, check out the pics on the Facebook page of Paisley Moon in Milton, Delaware. Pretty rad work!
I don’t consider myself much of a “wildlife” photographer. There are those who dedicate themselves to this subject and do so with grace and style. I find that when I capture “wildlife” it is because there was something interesting or odd about the scene or moment. So these are a few of my Birds & Bugs.
Oh and by the way – my portfolio site is up and running: http://www.cmthirteen.com
I haven’t incorporated the sales feature yet because well I want to be able to sign my pieces for those who buy them. Sooo if you’re interested in getting one email me directly: DURSTCM@GMAIL.COM
Not much into writing today but here are a few of some of my recent favs. Ohhh and my website/portfolio will be up and running sooooon. Not to worry those of you who happen to enjoy my written banterings – I shall continue blogging as well. ^o^
