Summer 2009

Summer 2009
Originally uploaded by Valentine Valentine

Summer 2009

Summer 2009
Originally uploaded by Valentine Valentine

Roll Over Beethoven

Last June for my friend Don's birthday we went to a Roller Derby in Nashville. The Damsels of Distress vs. The Assault Rivals. Ian was completely out of his element and had to overt his during half time when a very large shirtless man allowed audience members to throw darts at balloons that were stapled to his harry back. To say the least it was quite an experience.

I hope the new movie directed by Drew Barrymore, her directorial debut, is a little less shocking but just as exciting as watching girls in crazy outfits flying around a rink basically body slamming each other. Here are some photos from my experience and a spread from VS mag on the lovely ladies involved in the movie. I love me some Ellen Page from Juno and Juliette Lewis, on the list of my celebrity sightings - saw her in LA at a Thai restaurant. At that time she was dating Brad Pitt. Unfortunately he was not slurping curry soup with her that particular evening. - has to be one of the coolest chics in Hollywood.

#

You don't have to turn on a red light.

Last weekend I became close friends with a color I don't normally have a relationship with. I literally have nothing in my possession that is painted, made of or even resembles the color red. Ian is scared of the seductive hue and I just generally don't like it. So when I was given the treatment and realized that the director wanted all items in the shoot to be red I was like
"OK, yeah. Red awesome. I totally love red."

I didn't have to lay it on that thick but I did have an inner chuckle as we were going through the shots.

Tim, the director - "So here she takes her hair out of a ponytail to signify letting herself go"

Me - "Ok I see she is wearing a jacket what color does that need to be?"

Tim - "Red. Oh and the hair band that needs to be red to. Now in this shot I want a surreal exotic looking make-up"

Me - "I can do that. Do you want a smokey eye with red patterns on the face or I can do a red eye?"

Tim looks at me shocked and surprised "You can make her eyes red? That would be amazing!"

Me - "Oh no I was talking about the eye shadow not her eye color."

"Oh" Tim looks down with disappointment.

Me - "Well, we could make her eyes red with contacts but if she hasn't worn them before it might be hard for her to get them in"

Almost before I finished he said "Do it! Get them!! That would be brilliant!"

So I bought a pair of red contacts lens on online from a costume site. And after all that excitement. She didn't even end up wearing them. Blurg!


The commercial is a test for a great director Tim Green who is expanding his show reel. All of the shots were done in super slow mo and involve water and girl in a red bikini, Melissa. The set had around 125,00 kilowatts of light on it most of the two shoot days. Melissa was required to stand within close proximity of these giant heat lamps while water was literally sprayed or poured on her in large amounts, usually directly into her eyes. Awesome! She never complained not once, I was hugely impressed. The few moments I had to spend up close to those mutha uckas to check her make-up was like standing next to a huge ball of fire. I felt like the sun was giving me a back massage and not a nice one. I cannot express how hot those frickin lights were. Thank God the rushes look amazing! I am very excited to post this one when it is done. I have a feeling it is going to be beautiful.

What you waiting for?

I have been craving cupcakes for about a week and today I finally had a reason to have one, ok two. Yesterday some close friends of ours asked if we would stay over and watch their three adorably entertaining children while husband, Craig, went to hospital to be with his wife, Emma, who was already in the hospital, 7 months pregnant. Her waters broke a few days ago and the doctors wanted to keep her in the hospital to monitor her and the baby. Ian and I immediately said yes, packed an overnight bag, grabbed our laptops and jumped in the car.

After almost a full day of waiting and some some tense uncertain moments the difficult decision was made to deliver the baby by cesarian - not an easy decision, but the least risky and turns out the perfect one for this situation.

Ian and I had the amazing honor of hanging with the children at their home while their new baby sister was literally being pulled into the world. We jumped and clapped with them when the phone rang and Craig shared the news that all was well with Mom and baby. We all celebrated by eating colorful cupcakes around the round table in the family dining room. Auntie Amy, Emma's sister and Chris, their close friend and Pastor were there to join in the festivities. Saying it was an intense and exciting day is obviously an understatement but how do you put into words sharing such a momentous occasion with a family that is well..um..probably one of the coolest families I know. Don't tell them, but I kind of have a crush on them and sometimes secretly wish I was a full blooded member.

This morning in true Craig fashion he said to us before walking out the door to visit Emma with the kids "I have two favors to ask of you guys. One - do you mind delivering this letter registered post?" hands Ian letter.

I nod and Ian says "Of course we will"

"And will you be Libby's God parents?"

Me - jaw dropped eyes wide, maybe a bit of moisture in the corners of them speechless. Ian - giggling.

Then Craig says "Think about it and let us know"

"Ok we will think about it. Hee ha ha hee." I say with nervous overwhelmed laughter.

Minutes later in the quiet of the house Ian and I turn to each other and simultaneously agree that we would be happy to be little Libby's god parents and I quickly send an email communicating our decision. So I may not be a blood relative but I feel like the next best thing. I am still a little giddy with excitement and find myself repeating to myself I am a godparent, I am a godparent. Olivia Dorothy Ann Borlase (Libby) we can't wait to meet you.

Here a few shots from the day just after we heard the news.


Evie


Barnaby


Bethany



And this is Olivia Dorothy Ann Borlase 4lbs 9oz

Let me take you picture

These are some of my favorite photos from the show in Kigali.

Part of Your World

My favorite part of going to school was getting ready in the morning and picking out what I was going to wear. I used have nightmares about going to school where uniforms were required. This idea seemed to be a perfect form of torture for my teenage fashion creative identity. Since my life now has no consistent contact with people I thought I would try and photograph my daily outfits and post them on my blog to hopefully inspire or maybe just entertain my readers. Here are my first two. I need to work on my poses but the first one was so hilarious I had to post it.







scarf - top shop
shirt - twenty8twelve
jeans - earnest and sewn

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Not that Innocent

Had some time to read in Africa so read a novel I bought to read in South Africa, The Age of Innocence. I highly recommend it if you have already read it and when you get done rent the movie on itunes and watch that. It is unusual a for a movie to add to a book but this one actually does. Martin Scorces interpreted the incredibly descriptive literature beautifully. Daniel Day Lewis and Michelle Phieffer are incredible in there roles navigating the subtle nuances of the dialogue and portraying the undertones of their relationship gracefully.

Loved it!

Read it!

Watch it!

Where the streets have no name.

Day one of the Kigali Festival went pretty smoothly considering we are in Africa. Not to knock Africans but the culture is very different from the west and working quickly is not the done thing apparently. Ian has been extremely jolly and hugs me when I visit him at the monitor desk. Thanks babe. He took over monitors when the local was taking too long to set things up. I am sure it needed to be done but I also know Ian likes to take over when things are not done his way. He is doing a pretty good job and not moaning about it too much.

I am roaming around snapping photos and meeting people. The weather has been extremely agreeable and I have managed to elude a sunburn thanks to our Factor 50 sun cream. I am headed out now to walk to the top of the stadium for the "money shot", as Ian calls it, of the production.

Laters

Silent Night

Me and our driver Paul. He doesn't like to talk much but I have found out he is 35, has a Mom and listens to Darlene Check. (I know that is not how you spell her last name but the internet is way too slow for me to find the real spelling.)

A heavy fog hangs above the city that I can’t figure out if it is fog or pollution. My uneducated guess would be both. Al Gore’s message has not quite hit here yet and as I experience the sites of the city with our appointed driver Paul (who looks 18 but is 35) holding my breath when a truck passes leaving behind it a trail of black smoke as evil and mysterious as the elusive smoke monster from LOST, I realize that emissions and global warming are not high on the priority list. Since arriving here I have poured overwhelming amounts of bottled water down my throat feeling slightly guilty that they will not be recycled and never fully hydrated by soothing liquid. The air is dry and I am getting used to it but feel on the edge of headache most days. Every morning Ian and I cover our selves in sunscreen and bug spray. It smells lovely. Our toxic chemical smell is a stark contrast to the pungent smell of sweaty unwashed bodies that loves to sneak up on you and slap you in face when you least expect it. This too I am getting used to but every once in awhile I feel the sting as it hits my nostrils and gasp slightly trying to hold my breath and breath out at the same time.

Rwanda is a clean and dusty city that hides well the destruction that was rampant here less than 20 years ago. Yesterday I visited the Genocide Memorial in the centre of the city located on one of their many hills that create a stunning and interesting landscape. Also creates a difficult driving atmosphere as the cars are mostly old and seem to die frequently having no regard for on coming traffic. Luckily Rwandans are not aggressive drivers. Phew! I knew the story of the genocide, mainly from reviews and all the buzz of Hotel Rwanda, but was not prepared for the immense evil of the event. The memorial does a great job of communicating from a personal view point the horrifying details of those 100 days and the contributing years of propaganda that lead an alarming group of people to murder without hesitation their friends and families. The exhibitions lead me to ask and wonder how can we stop this from happening again. There have been too many, the Holocaust, Bosnia, Cambodia, Armenia, and Rwanda to know the signs.

Check out the memorial website http://www.kigalimemorialcentre.org and read some of the stories of the survivors. Hopefully it will give you a heart for the people for Rwanda and genocide survivors around the world.

I can be your Hero, Baby

Today is my first official day in Africa. 6:00am my body woke me up wide eyed but not quite ready for the day. I have been online for about 2 hours while Ian snoozes behind me. Our hotel is simple and clean lacking consistent power and toilet seats but boasting luxurious curtains with a beaded fringe. Enrique Iglasias is singing "I can be your hero baby", base line echoing, outside our balcony. I don't have any photos to post yet but hopefully in a few hours I will start clicking away.

I can't believe how crap of a blogger I am. Ya know every Monday an alarm on my phone and computer alerts me of my desire to blog consistently and every Monday I click ok and ignore it. Why do I do this? I think it is because I feel I have more important things to do like read Ashton Kutchers tweets or see what is on sale at Urban Outfitters. Seriously I need to get more serious about this and a few other things in my life. I don't actually spend all my time looking at twitter and shopping sites, but I admit I am easily distracted.

Well no more. I am no longer following Ashton on twitter and have blocked my Urban Outfitters emails. That is a good start to a more focused productive me.

Stay tuned.

x

We are Family

As much as I hated sharing a bathroom between 5 people and despised the small, white and brown toned house I grew up in I miss living in a house full of people. My living quarters are colorful and cozy and I exhale with great joy and gratefulness each time I step inside them, but sometimes when I home alone and have been for a couple of days I look around feel a deep sense of aloness. ( I am not sure that is a real word but I am going to use it anyway. I hope you don't mind?)

A couple of weeks ago I went to visit a family I have seen grow from a couple and little baby bump to a couple, three beautiful charming children, and a good sized baby bump. Two days I spent as an additional limb to this gracefully functioning family body and felt a belonging I usually only feel when I am at home with my Mommy, siblings and their offspring. Thank you Borlase family for emotionally embracing me.

Blue Monday

My last stint in Nashville I discovered I love Mondays. Every Monday I went to a smokey dive bar in east nashville called The 5 Spot for a spot of 50's dancing with my friend Kayleen. The crazy part is we don't arrive to this bebop hop until midnight or after and we don't leave until three. You read correctly - three AM. What kind of people go dancing on a Monday night and stay out until three? The joint is packed every week and we are there along with whatever part of society has the kind of lifestyle that entitles it to hand jive on the first day of the work week.

Maxwell

Dying to be Alive

Ian suggested that we spend Easter in Tulsa this year. Easter has never been a big holiday for my family and Ian and usually realize half way through the day that it is even a special day. So it was nice this year to join the multitudes on a pilgrimage back home to spend the blessed day with family. Unfortunately the day was plagued by rain and wind so all the happy Easter activities had to be done indoors.We still had a fabulous time and had some amazing home cooked food. Yummy.

Get on the Floor

Carpet in a bathroom in my opinion is gross. That was the one thing well one of two things I did not like about our flat in London. Carpet in a bathroom? For 2 years I would say about once a week. "We need tile in this bathroom. I hate this carpet. If you have to have carpet in a bathroom this is ok but I don't like it. I would love to have a heated tile floor in here." And every time Ian would reply "get a quote and we will decide if we can do it." For two years this same conversation.

A couple of months ago I finally did it. I got the quote, found the tile (I hate picking out tile) and purchased the underfloor heating. A week later we had our shiny new heated disco floor. Yippy!!!! Two days after it was done we came back to Nashville. Ha! Always the way, at least I have something to look forward to when I go back.

Starchild

In case you don't know the world of make-up is a world where you work more free jobs than paid ones. On all levels artists and stylists are putting in their free hours in hopes of meeting or connecting with someone who will pay them. It can be extremely frustrating. Especially when you realize that a shoot you have agreed to do will not be worth your time. This was exactly my attitude when I agreed to a "test shoot" a couple of weeks ago with a photographer in Nashville. Test shoots are shoots done for free, by everyone involved, and everyone walks away with images for their portfolios. Through a series of emails and phone calls I discovered that this shoot was a family portrait, two girls and their mother. My first reaction, honestly was…”what the what??!!!! This is so going to be a waste of my time. Why do I need this in my portfolio? Why am I doing this?”

Turns out it was sooooo worth my time. The mother and her daughters were stunning, funny, smart, kind, and beautiful. They photographer was lovely, excited, talented, and creative. She has an incredible energy and a passion for her work that explodes out of her sporadically. Inspiring to watch. Here a few shots form the shoot. I love them and I hope you do too.