Um...Paro

Saturday, May 29, 2004
Art Submisssion

I tore open the familiar bubble-lined manila envelope while muttering, “It’s another rejection.” I pulled out the contents and only saw the slides.

“Damnit, who did I mail these out to? Why isn’t there a letter? How rude!” The silence from whomever I sent my work to was more insulting than a rejection letter. As if they couldn’t bother with the likes of my art. As if they just glanced at my slides, threw them in the SASE and sealed it up with no afterthought. As if they thought, “Why bother?”

I felt cheated.

I picked up the envelope again and peeked in with one eye. There it was, the letter. Oh.
I unfolded it and read:

Thank you for your interest in showing your work with Melrose Lightspace. We have enjoyed viewing your work and are interested in including it in our 2004 exhibition season. We will be contacting you in the coming months to schedule a meeting and discuss details. Congratulations.

Oh!

posted at 5/29/2004 by Amparo | (0) comments?

Old Journal Fragment

He used to woo me with sequins and rhinestones.

posted at 5/29/2004 by Amparo | (0) comments?

Techinical Difficulties

I am struggling with plaster for a project that I am working on. Grrr!

posted at 5/29/2004 by Amparo | (0) comments?

Friday, May 28, 2004
When Time Slowed Down

I was cruising down the 10 East when what seemed like all of a sudden, the brake lights of the cars ahead of me turned bright. I waited a couple of seconds before lightly braking. I realized that I was coming up too quickly and I braked harder. Oh my god, the car did in front did not seem to be moving. Time slowed down as my brakes locked and my car kept sliding ahead. An adrenaline filled calm came over me as I stiffened with my back against the seat. Oh shit, I was going to get into a terrible accident! Fuck! Without looking into the other lane, I started to turn my wheel. My car kept sliding forward, but now at a slight angle. I heard screeching behind me. Oh no! What if a car hits me from the other lane? Ack! I'm going to be in one of those pileup accidents you hear about!!

And then, just in the nick of time, my car stopped and the traffic kept on moving.

posted at 5/28/2004 by Amparo | (0) comments?

Sunday, May 23, 2004
This Weekend

I've been having a great weekend. Friday evening started off with
going to the Chuck Arnoldi show at the Bobbie Greenfield Gallery. I had worked on
many of the frames and it was satisfying to see my handiwork on the finished
product in a gallery setting.

Later, John got some spumoni ice cream for me and then we headed out
to the Scope Los Angeles art fair. Unfortunately, I am so indecisive, so by the time
we got there we only had about 15-20 minutes to see the exhibition. There
were about 50 galleries showing and we barely touched the tip of
the iceberg (is that the right phrase??). Anyways, lots of great
art by new artists. Very refreshing. My favorite galleries that
I saw were Bank and Mixed Greens.

Saturday, I spent some time in the studio before heading out to my
commercial acting workshop. I love that class! It is so safe
and I'm learning so much. I like getting out of my skin.

And even though I had to work after class, I had Keiko and Trast
on my team at the catering job. It was nice to
be around familiar faces. I'll be seeing them at the 11 year
Full Moon Gathering also.

I'm going to try to make it to the Diane Arbus show on Sunday after
I get some shut eye! It should be amazing.

posted at 5/23/2004 by Amparo | (0) comments?

Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Been Checking Out...

I love discovering art that makes me smile and people who live so creatively. I've been looking and reading Rachael, who paints and My Paper Crane, a site owned by a super-crafty chick.

I also found Learning To Love You More. It's a web site with assignments and displays the ones that people have done. The website is even being shown at the Whitney. Check it out!

posted at 5/19/2004 by Amparo | (0) comments?

Sunday, May 16, 2004
Tea Time

I've fallen in love with the Jin Patisserie. Yummy teas, coffee, and special pastries.
They even serve a full afternoon tea. Double yum! Which, by the way, many people mistake for high tea. Afternoon tea is served with sweets and finger foods. High tea is actually dinner. A bit of internet research educated me. (I am an information junky.)

Anyways, the setting of Jin Patisserie is serene: curvy
walkway, circular couches to lay on (and tables and chairs if you prefer
those), lush green reeds, and a bubbling fountain.
And the mellow green, orange, and blue color scheme is so tastefully
done. It is sort of an East meets West teahouse.
I've been there twice in one weekend!

posted at 5/16/2004 by Amparo | (0) comments?

Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Commercial Acting Workshop

Embarrassing moment:
It's the first day of my commercial acting workshop. I am late and nervous.
I check my teeth and hair, but when I try to push open the door to
the room, it won't open. I see the teacher sitting on her desk, she
glances over at me. I wave but she continues talking to the class.
Wow, she must really dislike tardiness, I think to myself. I push
on the door and knock again.
"Is this the commercial acting class?" I ask.
There is a look of confusion on her face and she looks away.
A change of energy and rustling takes place inside the room.
Finally a young woman walks to the door, turns the knob and pushes
the door towards ME.

Oh my god. I never even bothered PULLING the door!
I walked into that room so embarrassed and tried so hard to regain
my dignity despite a few amused looks.

The class:

I like it. It is challenging. I am not a good actor and I feel
so vulnerable putting myself out in front of people like that.
But that is what I enjoy about the class. I love trying new
things and placing myself outside of my comfort zone. I get
a kick out of the improv part of the class. I can be as wild
and silly as I want.

The teacher is an older, tall, blond, ultra-skinny woman who
wears heavy eye makeup. There is a strange glamour to her.
She wore a butterfly in her hair and has a light brown, curly
haired dog named Pancake. When I first saw her, I wasn't so
sure that I was going to like her. But her teaching method
won me over. She puts her students at ease and pushes us
without hurting us.

She is also a former Doublemint Twin. One of the cute blond
long haired girls back in the 70's. I'm pretty impressed
by that little tidbit.

posted at 5/11/2004 by Amparo | (0) comments?

Saturday, May 08, 2004
Office Supply Guy

I was walking around an office supply store today when I encountered down a tall, beautiful black man stocking the shelves. I immediately sensed that I got on his radar and I before I could dodge him, he intercepted me.

"May I help you?" He asked. His eagerness was so apparent.

My immediate reaction was to be snobby. Like, who is this guy bothering me? But I stopped myself and asked him where can I find some clear plastic envelopes. He led me to the proper place and before he left, he told me, " You are so pretty."

"Thank you," I said.

"If I had the time I would talk to you."

And he walked away at that.

I was glad that I wasn't unkind. Some women would have reacted differently, but I don't see a reason to be mean if he really wasn't harrassing me.

I always feel a little strange when I attract attention, but I never see a reason to be cruel when someone pays a compliment. It was harmless enough.

By the way, I found my journal. It was underneath a piece of furniture that John moved into our bedroom. SIGH!

posted at 5/08/2004 by Amparo |

Friday, May 07, 2004
False Alarm

Okay, I finally found it. It was between the passenger seat and the door in John car. Is there something I can do to prevent all of this absentmindedness??

posted at 5/07/2004 by Amparo |

What??

Oh my god! I have now misplaced my pda! (I am really trying hard not to say lost!)

posted at 5/07/2004 by Amparo |

Sunday, May 02, 2004
Senile too Soon

I've done it again.

I have a tendency towards misplacing things very often. Almost all of the time.
This time I have misplaced my journal. It is full of feelings, inspirations, scraps, and sketches. It is a little piece of my life. I need it for my projects.
I spent half the day looking for it. It is either hiding very well in some god forsaken place or else there is now a little piece of myself floating about in the universe (more likely in a garbage heap somewhere).

Too bad there isn't something like a little special sensor that I could attach to all of my important things (keys, pda, and cell phone) that makes a sound whenever I clap a specific pattern. Life would be so much easier. I sure would have more free time because I wouldn't spend so much of it looking for stuff.

On the up side, I finally replaced my light meter that I lost 6 months ago! Sheesh!

posted at 5/02/2004 by Amparo |