Exhibit Corpse

My housemate Aggie has been developing this community poetry project titled Exhibit Corpse, named after the Surrealist drawing game, Exquisite Corpse (also recently adapted as a drinking game, we learn). The idea is simple, you start with a line of your choosing, in this case it has been "She thought she kept." From there the next person contributes a line, and the person that follows only receives the previous line and adds their own.  This very simple formula has been a great way to meet people in the neighborhood. While many are happy to give a line and be on their way, many others share stories about their antique businesses, recent evictions, bipolar disorders, aspiring careers, and much more. Once the lines are collected, they are redistributed line for line in the neighborhood; posted on light posts and stop signs for all to ponder. Stay connected to the project as it grows: exhibitcorpse.wordpress.com

A Trip to the Lehigh Valley

Last night I went up to Bethlehem to celebrate my grandmother's 85th birthday with my family.
While it was great to reconnect with my relatives, many of whom I have not seen in years, one of the surprise highlights of the night was the visit from the singing energizer bunny.



Another nice gesture came from my uncle Teddy, our family's "claim to fame." In 2006 he was elected to serve as a Florida state senator, and he is probably the only one in the family with a wikipedia entry, although we could change that! His official birthday proclamation revealed many interesting details previously unknown to me about my grandmother.



Other family fun facts include, the recent venture eweddingteam, the social networking site for wedding parties started by Donna and my web team cousins, Adam and Randy.
http://www.eweddingteam.com/

While Aunt Suzanne surely captured many fine details in her photos, here is one memorable moment in which all the siblings were united once again...

Spring!

This lovely Cherry tree was planted in front of my house last year. I'm happy it survived its first winter and was eager to bloom early this spring. Today I noticed many happy bees feasting on its yummy nectar. Spring is in the air!

Cooking with Laura and Carlos

How to impress your friends with an authentic Mexican spread.
The menu:
Salsa- 2 types red and green (full instructions to come)
Nopales (cactus) salad with red peppers
Mexican rice (tomatoes, garlic, onion, rice)
Refried Pinto Beans ( blended and spiced with a pinch of clove, cinnamon, ginger and epazote)
Black Beans (crushed up with cumin and epazote)
Homemade tortillas (maseca corn flour and water-easy!)

Dinner Party Concert series

On Tuesday March 10, we hosted a lovely United Nations dinner party, with a menu as diverse as its attendants. While I did not get the cooking or the conversation on tape, I did perk up in order to capture the post dinner concert, in which Adam Brodsky- extreme folk musician extraordinare, challenges Azar, a classically trained Azerbaijani violinist to an improv jam session, the first one in his life. To find some bit of common ground, Adam starts out with his self composed tune, Rasputin. Azar is a fast learner.



and a solo break....

Later on we had an iron musician strum off, in which we selected a tune for them to hear by ear, and gave them a few minutes to practice the tune. Aggie selected Hurricane by Dylan, which gave Adam the advantage, but Azar was quick to pick up the violin section. An impressive grand finale, but not on tape.

Matty eats an apple

At what age does a kid's every action stop becoming novel? Over the last 2 and a half years I have watched our neighbor Agnes's son Matty grow from a mumbling formless creature into a sharp little boy with a rapidly growing vocabulary. "The courtyard baby" as we think of him freely travels between our houses, and since we don't have to change his diapers, it's always a joy to have him around.

Artifacts from March 5th

A few things I noticed on the way to the subway today:


This week, a late snowfall covered the city. It's still too icy to ride my bike, so I've been back to my routine of walking 20 mins to the South Street station, listening to back logs of The World Technology Podcast, which never disappoints.

Septa is depressing. Like my neighbor Agnes always says, if you want to feel better about yourself, just take a look at the people that pass by riding on a Septa bus. The subway is another story, less depressing, but more unsettling. Yesterday the Broad Street line was closed at noon because a 16yr old kid jumped in front of the train and killed himself. It's stifling in the stations, they often smell like urine, and people spit freely right on the platform- could they at least lean over into the tracks?
Today I watched a girl eat a whole bag of sunflower seeds, dumping fistfulls of shells onto the floor.

Needless to say, I saw this scrawled on the post, I cautiously leaned up against while waiting for the train this morning.

Paper Mache - HOW TO

Here is a simple how to guide for making alebrijes aka awesome paper mache creatures.

1. Construct a frame using recycled paper towel holders, plastic bottles, wire, cardboard.
Make sure your frame is stable. Use tape to reinforce parts.


2.Prepare the mix. 3 cups water:1 cup flour Mix together in a pot on the stove, bring to a boil.


3. Keep stirring to remove clumps, until it reaches a milky liquid (some clumps are fine!)


4. Let cool. Watch your favorite TV show.


5. Tear up pieces of newspaper and cover both sides with flour mixture, apply to your frame. Start with the parts that need to be the most stable first. Continue dipping and pegging until it is completely covered. Save the mixture in a container where it won't be mistaken for food!



6. Let it dry overnight and it will be ready to paint the next day. If you want to add more details, reinforce or refine the shape, just take your extra mixture and keep working. To dilute mixture, just add a bit of water and reheat.


ENJOY!

Check out these sites for examples of awesome alebrijes!

and of course, one day we'll get here:

Karaoke Remix