Behind the Scenes of Altered: Last Take

Last night, The Altered Movie wrapped production in Gary, IN at the epic abandoned church near 6th and Adams.  This place is so dynamic that it works for everything.  During our extended time scouting, prepping, staging, filming here, we've watched countless individuals and groups come off the street to get a glimpse.  Everything from engagement-photo-wanting-couples to cross-dressing camera crews have been through these doors.  The light is amazing during the day and there is so much you can do with it.  Amongst the devastation that this building has endured over the last 30 years or so - fires, scrapers, natural hazards, etc. - it remains a beacon of artistic integrity in the community, bringing foot traffic to a city long left to dismay.

Our amazing art department deserves special props for this location in particular.  The church is pretty much a blank canvas and allowed for us to be creative in new ways.  Douglas Kupferman and his intern, Elizabeth Rawlings, transformed nothing into something under some serious time constraints.  They brought their own character to every room.  On top of set design, in the same department we have two awesome make-up ladies, Halli Vehrs and Deanna Bajorek, that deserve some acknowledgement.  They have had their work cut out for them in the last couple of days with bloody corpses and demon murderers to dress up.  Last night, they transformed a pretty stunt lady into an old maid (the stunt team was fantastic!). 

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes action right here and keep up with our adventure on Facebook and Twitter! You can also see more behind the scenes photos at Doobious.org run by our very own Ace Harney.

Behind the Scenes of Altered: Back to One

Yesterday, we were back at Police Athletic Gym (PALs) gym in the lovely Gary, IN, temporary home of the Altered crew. This historic location is a testament to its owner and operator John Taylor, epic boxing coach and fighter.

 

Taylor started a youth program to train young men and women in the community to use their aggression in a more positive light. His students are among several successful fighters including the WBC International Super Lightweight and NABC Lightweight Champion “Merciless” Mary McGee. Taylor opened his doors to the Altered cast and crew with outstretched arms and provided us with excellent young boxers, filling the scene with some great upcoming talent.

The PALs boxing gym almost closed a few years ago due to insufficient funding, but has risen again to be deemed "the comeback." It was thanks to generous donations from supporters that made sure the gym remained open for future generations. Taylor, himself, is an asset to the community and a genuine gem. Despite being 80 years old, he is actively present in the facility at all times, and shares a bond with his students based on respect and mutual hard work. The city of Gary, and the world of boxing, is lucky to keep company with this endearing man.

The Altered Spotlight Shines on Jessica 'Imoto' Harney

Behind every good man, is a great woman.  This great woman is Jessica 'Imoto' Harney.  She is our fabulously amazing Assistant Director and the glue that holds us all together.  The spotlight really shines on her every day, but today especially.  She spent the last two nights holed up in a tent with Director Kely McClung and protector Mookie Harney in order to safe guard our props, still located at the epic abandoned church, merely feet away from her warm bed.  Why is this exceptional?  Well, it means that we didn't have to do a total break down every night, which means we got off set slightly earlier, which means we had more time for "team building," which means ummm..nothing I'm authorized to disclose.

Imoto is a rockstar.  She goes full-speed until she crashes and then after a brief nap, gets right back up and takes off running.  There is nothing (most likely) that will stop her from pursuing her art, in fact the concept of "Carpe Diem" may have been created with her in mind.  She brought together an awesome crew to work on this film and it is sure to look great under her camera direction.

So here's to you Imotoson, the spotlight shines brightly in your direction (and is not limited to any single day, but every day).    



Check Imoto out at Captain Crazy Productions, Inc. and make sure to follow her on Twitter!

Behind the Scenes with Altered: Take IV

This weekend cameras were still rolling on Altered.  Thursday night, we had a late call time.  Set was what used to be the atrium for a school auditorium in Gary, IN around the downtown area, now it's an abandoned half of a building slowly crumbling away (a result of arson, and unable to be rebuilt due to budget cuts.  I'm sure this was a gorgeous building at one time, complete with marble staircases and adorned in engravings).  Nonetheless, through the lens of a camera it still looks quite epic.  We had to light the site from scratch because a)it was night and b)abandoned building = no working light switch (in fact, I'm pretty sure someone stole the light switches that used to be there, a sad reality indeed).

 DP Dan Slemons and Key Grip Steven K. Greer deserve special acknowledgement for their early arrival to set to make this all happen.  Our director, Kely McClung stepped in for a close-up, and we had some great extras make their way to set just in time to be part of movie magic.

 Starlett, Amanda Dreschler got a little carried away (literally) and we all enjoyed some direction from Rob Pralgo (Vampire Diaries).  This is the first time we had a guest director on set, and it was nice to see a different angle behind the camera (but we still love you most, Kely).  

Saturday and Sunday we filmed in the abandoned Methodist church in Downtown, Gary.  This is an absolutely epic location.  Michael Bay shot here last summer for Transformers 3, and the latest Nightmare on Elm Street reboot as well.  The lighting is great and it really lends itself well to a variety of motifs.  Otherwise, it was a closed set ,which means details are under wraps (you'll have to see the movie for a glimpse at those intense scenes).  But I'll leave you with something to ponder, there was some heavy lifting involved. 

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes action right here and keep up with our adventure on Facebook and Twitter!  You can also see more behind the scenes photos at Doobious.org run by our very own Ace Harney.

The Altered Crew: Breakdown

We now take a break from our regularly scheduled  posts for an important movie service announcement.

At the end of the day, the worst kept secret is that audiences don't flock to see movies because of the people that made them.  The director will probably be acknowledged by some, maybe a producer or director of photography on larger projects, but the actors are really what gets people in the seats (or nowadays, to click "add to queue" on their Netflix or spend their hard earned dollar at Redbox). 

But this is why The Altered Movie crew is awesome, and why you should care:

**Side Note: I'll go in alphabetical order to not show any favoritism, so we'll start with Ace..

Ace Harney (Best Boy): Ace runs the successful website Doobious.org  ("News. Art. Entertainment. Love. Exploring The World Created By Insanity..").  He is always looking to branch out and learn new things.  He has a very genuine personality and brings a sense of chillness to set, even during the most stressed days, he's exceptional at keeping his cool.  Ace shows his dedication time and time again, he even volunteered to be literally hit by a car for the sake of the movie, and his stunt looked amazing! He will be interviewing all the actors in the film for his website, so check them out.

Chris Sailor (Sound Engineer):  Chris is a graduate student at Georgia State University in Atlanta where he's majoring in production.  He's always willing to go the extra mile and pitch in, and he's just legitimately nice to be around.  His light-hearted nature makes him a joy to work with and he plays nice with others.  You can always count of him to cheer you up.  Plus, he's been bruised on set more than once, and never complains.

Dan Slemons (Director of Photography): Dan is dope.  Seriously, he is so incredibly knowledgeable in the field of production (and a magnitude of others).  He is well respected in his craft and in addition, builds most of his own equipment with his mad master welding skills.  Dan works full-time at a university in Atlanta in the audio visual department.

Jonathan Owens (Assistant Camera): Jonathan owns and operates Chameleon Red Photography in Atlanta.  He does a lot of freelance event work and takes AMAZING photos.  His eye for the artistic in even the simplest of things makes his work brilliant, and his travels have brought him home with extraordinary photographic evidence of that.  Plus, he is incredibly funny and personable.  He formerly worked in the music industry managing a venue and has an extensive knowledge of music.  He's also an epic storyteller.

Steven K. Greer (Key Grip):  Steve has been in the business for a long time.  He has incredible insight and great stories from over the years.  Steve brings so much to the crew, including comic relief which is always appreciated on set.  He loves what he does and it shows in his work.  He can make anyone smile and is never afraid to laugh at himself (which is a particularly awesome quality).

Cole Mellendorf (Production Assistant):  Cole is a former Columbia College student and still resides in Chicago. He's eager to learn and has shown everyone that he wants to be there.  He literally got off a train in Gary, IN and walked 4 blocks alone in the middle of the night, on the wrong side of the tracks, so he wouldn't be late for an early call time.

I'm really lucky to be part of this fantastimazing crew, and they may not be branded the official "talent" but are most certainly incredibly talented.  Keep watching as I spotlight, each and every one of them in upcoming blog posts.

Behind the Scenes of Altered: Take III

Another epic day on the set of Altered.  We were shooting at the abandoned cement factory behind the lovely Majestic Star Casino in Gary, Indiana.  The smell of perspiration and micro-dust particles mixed with something that I can only assume is acid-based, creeping down the the concrete slabs holding up the large and surprisingly scary mixer bowls.  On the plus side, as a torrential downpour/tornado speed winds hit Northwest Indiana, we were in perhaps the most secure location in the area.

             

Our epic crew (Ace Harney, Steven K. Greer, Dan Slemons, Jonathan Owens, Chris Sailor, and P.A. Cole Daniel) set up an awesome set and made everything run smoothly.  These guys blow my mind with their talent.  Props also go out to Douglas Kupferman, our Art Director, and his assistant Elizabeth Rawlings, who are responsible for making everything look as epic as possible.  

As always, Jessica 'Imoto' Harney made making movies look easy with her natural camera finesse.

**Side Note:  Missing crew member?  Yes, me, Lindsay Sperling.  I didn't think it was right to use words like "epic" and "awesome" when referring to myself..well not in the company of others at least.

 
Stan Harrington, Amanda Dreschler, and Chris Meister gave a profound performance in their make shift police lair that would make any director proud, like ours (Kely McClung).  Stan's cowboy boots added just a little extra to every take.

The highlight of the day was clearly when I got to leave, airport bound, to pick up our very own serial killer Rob Pralgo.*  But filming didn't stop for that unfortunately, so I missed the final scenes.  The hard working crew and cast had a late night ahead of them and wrapped sometime well after midnight.

**Side Note:  If you don't know who Rob is, you should google him.  He has done a tremendous amount of work in the industry and has probably been in something that you not only have seen, but really liked.  In addition, he is just a really great and talented guy.

For more information on The Altered Movie, follow us on our newly revived Twitter or on Facebook.

*I'm a huge Vampire Diaries fan!

The Altered Spotlight Shines on Kely McClung

The Altered Spotlight moves up the ranks today to showcase our fearless leader, Director Kely McClung.  BUT, because he is the director, AND, because I'm not yet convinced that he shares my particular brand of humor..I'll let this picture speak the 1000 words bubbling in my bouncy brunette brain.



**Side Note: Yesterday he was particularly complimentary of me..that's really why I chose him.  Flattery may get you almost anywhere..

**Another Side Note:  You can't mention Kely without praising his partner-in-crime, Jessica 'Imoto' Harney - one word: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

You can follow Kely on Twitter or stalk him on Facebook..your choice.

The Altered Spotlight Shines on Dan Slemons

There was no easy choice for today's Altered spotlight superstar (mostly because everyone that spent the day working on the skeleton crew has already been featured), so the honor goes to the always deserving and praiseworthy. Director of Photography Dan Slemons. 

Dan (and our beloved CSI investigator Chris Sailor) braved morning traffic to get to set in Chicago, only to find out that the park was closed due to an unexpected (early) set-up for the Taste of Chicago. But, no traffic, no location mishap, no rain could stop this dynamic picture/sound duo from persevering.  And, we do reward and appreciate effort, so both boys were given the opportunity to rest up this afternoon.


Dan inched above Chris in the race for spotlight sweetheart when he was the unlucky one to be awoken by the sound of the door chime, and me entering the crew house.  Chris unknowingly woke up just in time to be an active bystander in the cookie-making process. Cookies? Yes, cookies. After I arrived to the crew house fashionably late, Dan took it upon himself to put me to work, and I distracted him (after we ran all of the errands) with the idea of baking cookies (which turned out excellent in their ooey gooey goodness by the way). Dan selflessly endured errands in order to be a contributing member of the team while the remaining posse members Ace Harney, Steve Greer, and Jonathan Owens (yesterday's spotlight savant) set up the epic police lair location across town.

For more info on The Altered Movie, consult Facebook.

How To Tell If a Guy Likes You..

I did some googling this afternoon on a subject that has perked my interest lately, "How to tell if a guy likes you."  Now, there once was a time when it was blatantly obvious whether he did, but that was back in the second grade when he would hit you on the playground and run away.  As an adult it can be a painfully disappointing effort to discern like from LIKE and lust from Love.  And frankly, after a longer than average stint outside to world of male interaction, it has recently come to my attention that my coveted seventh sense, the one that combines a plethora of the original six and tells the brain 'Oh. Girl. He is so into you," might be broken.

My research has concluded that either I am broken, or he's just into that into me, or maybe a combination of the two.  

The Altered Spotlight Shines on Jonathan Owens

Today's Altered Spotlight darling of the day comes straight from set.  Jonathan Owens put down his reins as photo god-in-training to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a used-sports-car-stunt-driver (well probably).  Jonathan was forced to fight with his inner-hypochondriac demon when the real stunt man (that he hit with his ferociously kitty-cat like Firebird) smashed the windshield in front of his face. Yes, that's right in front of his face folks, he is truly stunt-tastic.  Jonathan remained unscathed but unfortunately the yellow beauty of a car (well..in it's day I'm sure) wasn't that lucky and will be heading to that bright light in the sky this very afternoon.  (And by that bright light, I mean the bright light that the junk yard had installed, I can't be sure, but most likely, probably to showcase their awesome array of non-functioning semi-trashed automobile-like selection.)


**Side Note:  Jonathan wasn't the only crew member turned stunter this afternoon. O no.  Ace Harney let us hit him with the same car. End Side Note.

Earlier that day, if you were in the right place at the right time (which you probably weren't), you could see Jonathan showing off his climbing skills.  He transcended a tower of scaffolding high above a high school parking lot with a cat-like ease.  When he reached the top he courageously posed for not one, but TWO band pics with fellow rock n' roll aficionados Dan Slemons, Steven K. Greer, and Chris Sailor.  If I had to give this band a name, my first choice is 'The Monikers', but '4 Monkey's' also seems appropriate.



It's Jonathan's spunky personality that really puts him ahead of the crowd.  This southern gem brings a light hearted, but dedicated mojo to set.  This is also why if there was an official ranking for men, he would score exceptionally high.



Check out Jonathan's photography conveniently located at Chameleon Red Photography, he truly has a brilliant eye that is evident in all of his work.  Make sure to visit his blog while you're there for excellent stories of the events he has covered.

The Altered Spotlight Shines on Steve Greer

Tonight we shine a spotlight on a very special member of the Altered crew, a young fellow by the name of Steven K. Greer (key grip).  And when I say young, I use that term loosely to describe his personality and not in fact his age.  But hey ::shrugs and cocks head to the right:: age is only a number, right?

Steve showed his chutzpa this week by taking one for the team and walking into a nail hidden delicately among the building code violation that passes for a ceiling, of an abandoned church in Gary, Indiana.  It is his bravery in locating aforementioned nail with his own head that saved the other members of the crew from meeting a similar fate.  Therefore, Steve is the first member of the Altered crew to be featured on his very own spotlight post.

Side Note: Let's not forget the equally selfless contribution of Chris Sailor and his ass sculpting suit of non-stretch polyblend [see: Behind the Scenes of Altered: Take II], please take a moment to reflect ::pause::

On the plus side, Steve maintained his good humor throughout the day.  Take this photo of him at Home Depot later that afternoon as proof.

Furthermore, this brave little soldier endured the agony of a tetanus (or "tit-i-nus" as unanimously voted on by the Altered crew under the digression of Jonathan Owens) with only the company of Jonathan Owens.  Luckily for Steve, this sorrow turned to sunshine when the "doctor" (and I use that word loosely as well because I'm pretty sure it was a nurse practitioner..) rewarded him with his very own keepsake Dora sticker or more appropriately consoling "memorabilia".

*There was no way for anyone involved in production to be aware of this wayward nail.  It was purely coincidence that Steve came across this unsecured risk.  The location is constantly the victim of scrappers and other camera crews that may or may not remove/move items with little regard for those that visit the site after which.   Even though every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of all crew members, it is always possible for an accident to occur.

Behind the Scenes of Altered: Take II

Thursday was an epic day on the set of The Altered Movie.  The crew arrived bright and early on the streets of Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood, shooting mostly under the EL-Blue Line stop, on the corner of Damon and North Ave.

**side note: I can't take any responsibility for the bright and early part, for I was somewhere else equally bright and early molding the minds of America. I arrived fashionably late on the flip side around dusk.

We had some great actors and extras who spent their day and night shooting scenes, even a dedicated 14 year-old who I'm sure was up long past his bedtime.  Scenes included an awesome fight sequence and the  dialogue leading up to it; we also erected a crime scene complete with flashing lights and caution tape that most of the crew made appearances on-camera during (look for my 11.2 second role as a bystander/gawker).

The highlight of the crime scene would definitely have to be the cameo made by our esteemed audio engineer himself, Chris Sailor, who donned a ultra-tailored (for someone else) CSI wardrobe.  I have to mention that he rocked that male cat suit like no one else could have, and having to get down on my knees in that dirty alley way to tie his shoes was a small price to pay for that everlasting memory.

In a team effort, Best Boy, Ace Harney, and Key Grip, Steven K. Greer took the time to teach me the important art of slating (which goes something like "Scene 39Camaro, Take 1, mark").  It is actually much more nerve racking then one might expect.   

Filming wrapped just before 1 a.m. To perk up the crew at this late hour, we enjoyed some tacos from the walk-up only joint around the corner from set.   Team building is quickly becoming some of my favorite set moments.  Due to their refusal to make me a chicken taco, I was forced to try a fish one..it was tangy and zesty at the same time.  Good work Mexican Taco Stand, Good work.      

Check out behind the scenes photos from Day 1 at Doobious, and while you're being ambitious, log onto facebook and check the movie out The Altered Movie OR follow the journey on Twitter @alteredmovie!

A Matter of Perception: On the set with "Altered"

Yesterday, was my first day on set of Altered: The Movie directed by Kely McClung and produced by Imoto Harney.  Altered is a vision penned by McClung himself, starring Rob Pralgo ("Vampire Diaries"), Stan Harrington, and Amanda Dreschler; McClung also plays a lead role.

This is my first attempt at production assistantshipping and I think it's too early to tell if it's a success or flop on my part.  Most of the time, honestly, I just felt like a was kind of in the way and desperately tried to stay out of the shot (hopefully that works itself out). BUT, I am having a ball being part of the process.

On the plus side, independent films are a great way to get some perspective on the industry.  And, selfishly enough, I'm hoping that this behind-the-scenes peek will give my writing a bit more pizazz.  Before cameras rolled and the hectic got crazy, I had the chance to sit down and interview Imoto and Kely for a project of my own. It was great to hear a little bit of their back stories.  I think they're going to translate into print just perfectly.

Side note: the crew is all entirely, awesomely fun and talented. I'm really looking forward to spending more time with them all and soaking up the experience!         

Teen Wolf (S1:E3) Recap with a Side of Opinion

Tonight the third episode of MTV's newborn-hit, Teen Wolf, aired at its regular time: Monday nights at 8pm (e.s.t.).  I don't know about you, but I wasn't old enough to appreciate the original (I'm talking about the Michael J. Fox one, in case you haven't googled it), but I am definitely a repeat customer of the new one. 

In case you haven't tuned in yet, here's the breakdown.  The lead, hottie Tyler Posey, plays a newly-bitten werewolf, Scott. Scott is taken by Allison.  Allison is the daughter of a werewolf hunter.  Scott lives with his mom.  His best bud, Stiles, plays the role of overenthusiastic but always means well guy.  And, there's a lacrosse capt that seems to have it out for him (even before he stole his star power).

This episode starts predictably with a dream of Scott and Allison getting hot and heavy on a school bus until Scott goes all wolfy and attacks.  We find out after the commercial break that the dream in fact took place, but with a different victim.  Scott spends a good few minutes getting all grry before he runs, literally, into Allison.  After realizing that he didn't hurt to girl that he is quickly falling head over heals for (and after classes), he heads over to visit his wolf-mentor-to-be/supernatural nemesis Derrick's for help.

The relationship between Derrick and Scott is what interests me most.  Scott is an only child (unless one's hiding out at dad's) and Derrick seems set to take over the role of pseudo big brother.  Their love-hate connection will surely continue to be hot and cold, and I couldn't be more thrilled.  They kind of have that Stephan/Damon (Vampire Diaries) chemistry going on. 

Anyway, Scott decides he's not an immediate threat to his lady love and goes on a group date (not by choice) with Capt. Lacrosse jeering all the way.  After the rocky start, it ends up on Allison's porch where they cement with excessive lip locking their promise for more dates sans the group. 

Meanwhile, Allison's dad proves to be extra broody and a non-crowd favorite as he goes after Derrick with some low blows and continues to give Scott some ultra unflattering semi-evil looks.

Scott and Derrick close out the evening blow for blow before coming to a truce. 

The ending was a little too goosebumps-are-you-afraid-of-the-dark for me, but all in all a solid B. 

MTV's Twi-Opoly

Why should the MTV Movie Awards be renamed the MTV 'Twilight' Awards (for at least the next two shows)?

Well, I'll tell you.

1.  Self-Esteem. Over the last 3 years, the cast of Twilight (and the movie itself) has won the majority of the awards.  No matter how many tweets a minute #teampotter gets in there, Twilight by far dominates the show.  Most categories seem to be a lock for the Twi-hotties and by allowing other actors to compete in these categories almost seems like a jab at their confidence levels (the losers, that is) - like when anyone is up against Meryl Streep, it's just a lost cause. 

2.  Time.  It would save us all a lot of time if they would just announce the awards that are won outside the franchise.  As much as I personally vote for and support the Twilight cast, their acceptance speeches border on pathetic with a twinge of straight-up awkwardness.  This would free up most of the show for exclusive Twilight clips (which would be much appreciated on next years show) and even performances from the cast, since most of them seem to be musically inclined.  We could have Robert Pattinson serenade us with 'Bella's Lullaby" and Jackson Rathbone rock out with his band '100 Monkey's.' It could be like a talent show, and we could vote on the Best Twi-Talent instead of Best Movie as the crown jewel of the evening.  I think it has possibilities.

3.  Built-in Hosts.  If the theme of the night was 'Twilight,' producers wouldn't have to look too hard to find hosts.  It could be a team effort, cementing the bond between Team Edward and Team Jacob fanatics everywhere (plus I see a huge ratings boost in this for MTV).  They could even throw in a little Team Switzerland to meld things together.  Both Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner proved that they can at least pretend, I mean act, like they're funny in the awards show promo clips over the last two years.  If the writers left out the "adlib" portions of the script, I bet these two would make a great team.  At the very least, RPatz could mask his failures by dropping the F-Bomb here and there, distracting the audience and pissing off parents - just like MTV did in its early days (you know, when they played music) - and Taylor could take off his shirt whenever he thought he was losing the audiences interest, the drowning sound of drones would detract from any massive mishap.           

So there you have it, and here's hoping that logic prevails.

Grey Skies

I'm feeling particularly disinterested in being productive today, even though my to-do list is quite extensive.  Perhaps its the unpredictable and very loud weather conditions that we've been having.  Nothing makes me feel more like being a slug bug than the rain.  In fact, in my undergrad years, rain was the top reason on my long list of reasons not to go to classes (so as you can probably imagine those weren't the most productive academic years of my life).  There's nothing I like more than to cuddle up with an imposter fleece throw, pop a DVD in or grab a good book, and waste the day away (preferably with ice cream and/or vino).

I'm sure I am not the only person that feels this way.  At least I hope not..  

So if you're sitting around waiting for the sun to return, unproductively so, like moi.  You might be interested in reading The SAB.  Its the new(est) blog by actor Stephen Amell (Vampire Diaries, Hung).  I find his writing style very engaging and his sarcasm welcoming.  If you're a fan of my blog, most likely he is your cup of tea as well.  So do yourself a fun favor a check it out, again it's: The SAB 

Tick-Tock Goes to Clock

I was thinking about the phrase "time heals all."  It seems like one of those annoying cliche things that you say to someone going through a rough time, one of those things you know is true but doesn't feel like it, but I wonder if anything thinks about why it's really such a sound statement.

Realistically, time doesn't do anything.  Time is arbitrary, a social construct that philosophers and scientists and mathematicians have made up to categorize the passing of, for lack of a synonym, time.  But, it makes sense that you feel better after some "time" has passed.  Obviously, the more time between you and an event, the less attached you are to it.  So maybe distance heals all is more rhetorically correct?      

Scornfully Yours, Portland

What do I want from life?

Well, right now, I'd like some guy who has scorned me to show up at my door, with orchids and my favorite perfume, bare his soul, willfully admit he's a jerk, and mean it.

But those things don't happen in real life, they only happen in the movies. Right?

And furthermore, it's flippin' annoying when characters in movies have lines like that, when they are actually in a movie and five minutes ahead in the plot whatever they complained about not happening in "real life" happens.  Whoever approves scripts with lines like that should really consider his work more carefully in the future.  Thanks.

Twenty Something and Crushed?

I've been scouring the website for Liz Funk's new book, Coming of Age in a Crap Economy, aptly titled Oh, Crap and I feel comforted.  It's refreshing to read the words that could have just as easily come out of my own head.

I use the phrase "Bitch, this is a recession" (in some form or another) on a daily basis in conversation with friends.  It's meant as a joke, but in reality we all know it's not.  Being in your twenties right now is no easy task.  

The website outlines the premise for her new book on the difficulties of being a twenty something adult in this economy [read: recession].  One of the thing she discusses is the giving up or limiting of the luxuries that you might have enjoyed previously with the help of a job, or supplemental income from mommy-and-daddy.  I think this is a great point, let's be honest -- it's not easy giving up things, especially when they are things that you have become accustomed to -- something that most financial guru's overlook.  In almost every article on getting out of debt you read sentence after sentence telling you to give up that $4.80 Starbucks every morning or stop shopping for things you don't need (which is most of the things I love to shop for), but no one ever talks about what that does to you emotionally.  I consider myself to be a fairly frugal spender, even with my shopping addiction considered, but that cup of Starbucks in the morning or on the way to a looooong night class, after a loooong day at work is sometimes the only thing standing between me and crazy.  Just because it sounds like a good idea, and other people live without it, doesn't mean you can just snap your fingers and not want it anymore.  Funk says, "that having to downsize is possibly the worst part of coming of age in a crap economy."  (And by downsize, she means giving things up..in case there was any confusion or connecting the dots issues)

This evening I was faced with a dilemma that (at least to me) is a great example of this.  I was sitting at my computer checking my e-mail after I finally got home from work, and realized that I hadn't made anything for lunch at work tomorrow.  By this time, it was already getting late and frankly I was feeling lazy/exhausted.  I knew I had 3 options:

1.  Get off my duff, head downstairs and make something with the groceries that my parents supply for me (almost free of charge)
2. Plan on heading to Panera during lunch hours
3. Lie to myself about waking up early to make lunch, and then knowing that would never happen, decide to go to Panera and pick something up

I liked option 2.  Tomorrow is pay day, and it would be a nice treat.  The problem with that option, and option 3of course, is that a) gas prices are insane! and b) it's not free.  I had to opt for making my lunch, even though I not-so-secretly would prefer to eat out every day of the week and be able to afford someone else to prepare all my lunches. And breakfasts.  Ok, and dinners.  (honestly, I loved cooking when I lived on my own, but my parents have killed that desire).  In the end, I realize that my made at home lunch is way healthier and a smarter financial decision.  Unfortunately, I don't make oodles of money and I have to budget.

Reading about someone else going through something similar to what I'm going through makes me feel better about myself, it gives me a certain sense of motivation (like when I read Women's Health to validate my hours at the gym).  If you are in your twenties, or even just going through a rough time, I would recommend you check this website out.

For your convenience, another link to it: Coming of Age in a Crap Economy

Weathering the Storm

I was thinking about the weather, and how the weather is really a lot like our relationships.  Friendships, and love, and family, are never simple.  No matter how much you want to believe that there's that one person who makes everything seem ok, that it's just so easy to be around, that it feels simple - it's not. there's not.  Relationships are rough, and stormy, and sometimes you feel like you're in the middle of tropical storm Ignacio and sometimes they resemble a perfect day where you can imagine lying on your back on a blanket in the yard staring up at the clouds, making up names for the shapes in the sky.  But it's just that, that's exactly what makes relationships special, that just like the weather, they're unpredictable.

And just like the weather, sometime you don't make it through them; but life moves on.  If it wasn't for the stormy weather and rough patches, you wouldn't know to appreciate the sunshine.  Without one, the other just becomes ordinary, and let's face it, as much as we may wish sometimes that relationships were cookie cutter and there was some guidebook telling us what to say and how much to push and when to walk away (just like we wish the weatherman was better at his/her job), there's not.  Sometimes there aren't any warning of rocky times ahead, they just appear, out of thin air, and rain starts falling on your head.

But the sun always comes out eventually, sometimes you just have to wait for it.

"Fit for Summer, Fit for Life"

I was outside sunning myself, and while my back was getting its allotted time of shine I picked up the latest issue of Women's Health (which is one of the few magazines that I willfully pay for).  I didn't make it passed the "Letter from the Editor" before I was inspired.  Editor-in-Chief Michele Promaulayko said:

"Think about it: Each and every person who has ever climbed out of a fitness slump chose one day to get off their duff."

She goes on to talk about the "notion of personal responsibility," which plays a role in so many different aspects of our lives.  Whether it's the decision to skip the fried cheese appetizer or take a chance with your career, this is your life.  And like it or not, when you look back 10, 20, 67 years from now, you have no one to blame except yourself for where you are..and hopefully instead of the word blame in that sentence, you will be able to insert "congratulate" or "pat on the back" or "take on a whirlwind shopping spree" instead.

Change is now, embrace it. 

Reaction to Newsweek (May 2, 2011 Edition)

Let me start by saying that I am not a regular Newsweek reader.  Even though my household has a subscription to it, I am more of an occasional reader.  I like to skim through it, read only certain articles, pull nuggets out for conversational purposes.  Rarely do I find an article that I am just enthralled with, even among the many many very good ones, I think I have trouble relating to them.

However, I am not afraid to admit that at 25 I am still a huge fan of the Olsen twins.  When I was scouring the mail and saw them on the cover, I was thrilled.

[side note: it was finals week, thus the delayed reaction] 

After months of the mishaps of Lindsay Lohan seeming to be the only representation of my contemporaries being bandied about news media, the tabloids, and invading my Twitter-feed.  Coming across an article that raised the stakes and turned the tables on what "kids" my age our doing with their lives was a phenomenal moment.  A tinge of me felt like I was the slacker in this situation comparatively, as I'm sure others my age can relate, but ultimately I felt proud that members of my generation are really stepping it up.  The work ethic that the Olsen Twins have is AMAZING!  They go after what they want and are role-models for all generations.  In fact, after reading this article I feel more motivated to pursue my dreams and take risks.

I hope that Newsweek features more young Americans in future articles, the future is today and we are that future. 

**Check out the article, Look, Ma, We're Fashion Moguls! by Robin Givhan (@RobinGivhan)  #importedfromDetroit like me!

No Vacancy

If you're like me, then downsizing your wardrobe might prove to be a formidable task.  You probably have a hard time pinpointing when your closet started to look like it was on steroids, or possibly started to take over your room.

Exhibit 1: My overstuffed closet, complete with over the door hooks and a shirt bar that allows for twice as much stuff..

Exhibit Dos: Yes, that is an entire wall covered in racks of clothing!

For me, it's a combination of 1) being addicted to shopping, and 2) not being able to part with items promptly enough to keep up with the replacements.

To meet the demands of my limited space, I have been forced to box up things approximately twice a year to make room for more seasonally appealing options.  This weekend, since the sun has finally appeared over Chicagoland Indiana for longer than 36 hours, I decided to allocate some time to the transition of items.  This also is a great time to discard winter things that I never wore and summer things that I had to come to terms with were never going to be worn.  Some things however present a challenge for me.  Although, I tend to not hold on to things for sentimental reasons, when it comes to clothing it's the complete opposite.  When I look at an item there are a few things that come to mind:

1) The last time I wore it (or when I bought it, since the tags are still on) - chronologically speaking only, If I wore it last summer it's probably going straight to a hanger or hitting a shelf, whether realistically or not I would wear it again.  Unless it's something that maybe I only wore because it was teetering the line between keeping and tossing, and I wore it as a last ditch effort to prove what my mother always says wrong, that I buy things just to buy them.

2) Where did I wear it - see I attach some intrinsic worth to an item based on the memory I associate with it.  I have an uncanny memory when it comes to certain details.  I probably can't list for you everything I wore last week to work, but I can look at a shirt that I haven't worn since undergrad (four years ago now) and tell you the exact party I wore it to, and why that night was so special to me, and therefore why I just cannot part with it. 

3) Does it still fit me - And lately that answer has been overwhelmingly no to at least a 1/4 of my closet (thus the Lindsay's "clothes that I need to lose 10 lbs to fit into again" box sitting in the hallway waiting for someone to lovingly transport it to the basement for me..and if I leave it there long enough, trust me, someone will - and perhaps they'll take my box of "books I already read" and "boots") 

I think that perhaps the biggest thing that most women suffer from would be number 3.  My weight, like most, fluctuates.  And clothing are particularly sensitive to that.  The jeans might have looks great 5 pounds ago, but now I question whether wearing them out could pose a danger to someone if the button pops off and ricochets of something, taking an eye out on the way.  That skirt would be perfect if I took an inch off both of the inner thighs and they looked like they did last summer when I had more time to work out.  An inch here, a pound there, all these things have the power to effect the way something fits and looks.  It is incredibly frustrating and unless you have the time to suffer through consistent workouts or will power to endure challenging diets - this is a reality for many women. 

Stay Strong.  And remember, if you haven't worn it in over a year, you should probably donate it (keep a list, and write it off during next year's taxes!).  Clothes come and go, they shouldn't be what's weighing you down.

Lessons Forgotten

The term “big kid” is thrown around a lot to describe adults that are immature, irresponsible.  It’s one of those idioms that has become a more pc way to refer to people that we actually like, without being completely insulting.  But what are we really losing by using the word kid this way.  We are ultimately marginalizing the characteristics of children that are positive, like:

1. Children are a ball of energy – They are really quite amazing that way.  I can’t remember the last time I had unlimited energy that lasted all day.  Even with the help of caffeine, I’m lucky if I can pretend to be full of energy, and even then it only lasts a max of a few hours.  Yes, sometimes we as adults find burst of energy, but realistically it doesn’t last all that long.  I love men that have energy, kid-like energy.  I think it’s incredibly attractive and I feed off of it. 
2. Children don’t hold grudges – No one forgets being mad faster than a child.  They really know the meaning of “brush your shoulder off.”  They fall down and get back up and go back to what they were doing before.  This is an excellent quality to have.  I know there are times when it’s a matter of emotional self-defense to keep your distance from someone, or even write them off, but holding a grudge for the sake of holding a grudge is unhealthy.  It causes stress that ultimately hurts you more than the other person.  Kids don’t know anything about that. 
3. Children are not afraid to cry – In fact, kids will cry anywhere, at anytime, for any reason.  They have absolutely no problem showing their emotions.  They don’t bottle up their feelings until that boil over and cause a big stir, they are honest.  They haven’t learned yet how to lie with their emotions.  Maybe this is what we can learn most from children.  That it’s perfectly acceptable to feel.

I hope one day someone calls me a big kid, and means it in the best way.

Run Fat Boy, Run!

It has come to my attention the utter hypocrisy that exists within the American educational system.

Running in the halls!

The news is constantly focused on the rise in child obesity, yet we tell children not to run in the halls.  Perhaps if we encouraged more physical activity, especially during time periods where they don't have the option of slug bugging it and indulging in the television (or the "idiot box" as my mother unwittingly calls it) children wouldn't be so fat.  Yes, I said it, F-A-T fat!  There are too many chunky monkeys walking around elementary schools these days, and let's face it, chunky monkey-ness is only cute for a limited time.

We need to seize every available opportunity to get our future leaders hearts racing, blood pumping!

Therefore, I am a strong supporter of running in the hallways (even allowing them to walk briskly would quench my thirst)..UNLESS there shoes are untied, and in that case they should step into a doorway as to avoid being run over like the father did in The Lion King during the stampede (that part still makes me cry).

**Side Note: Despite the title, this is a gender neutral commentary**

The Day After The Last Day

I have made it 115 Days without shopping, and today, 116 for good measures. 

Out of the four freebies I allotted myself, I used two.  One, a pair of frilly pumps, the other, an Indiana University tank top from the Victoria's Secret PINK collection. 

How do I feel?

Well, today (after suffering from an "I'm fat and none of my clothes look good on me" morning) I decided that I should dump my whole wardrobe and start again.  Probably not the best idea coming off of a 4-month long shopping hiatus.  Plus, I'm not really fat.  Instead, I think the better decision would be to do some laundry..
that's right. I admit it. I DO NOT LIKE TO DO LAUNDRY!  So, it doesn't get done very often..and even though my closet (read: half of my room turned closet) doesn't appear to be missing any items, when my staple pieces are all dirty - it causes me mass panic and thus "I'm fat and none of my clothes look good on me" mornings that result on me barely getting in the door at work on time.

To be honest, I am still in the throws of finals and unfortunately grad school is consuming my life right now.  Therefore, I haven't had much time to contemplate my upcoming shopping celebration(s)..

I'm sure I'll have more of a philosophical response to this experience after Monday night.

Changing Time

Today at work, while discussing my love life - a subject the older women can't get enough of  - one of them interjected, "I've never seen a generation more wrapped up in there careers and eduction, and less interested in romance than yours."  This of course was a response to my, "I think it would be nice to have a summer romance."  A notion that they all immediately dismissed as being "old school."  I tried to explain that I am looking at my future and its in a transition point, that my life is a series of "well if this comes to fruition, than I'll take this path, if not I'll go down this road."  There is enough uncertainty in my life without adding the strain that a relationship could add to my already weighted decisions. 

From there perspective, a summer romance in contemporary terms is only a physical thing, that the guy would just assume I'm using him for his money.  How this fits with being future oriented?  No idea!  Finally, I gave up my argument and had to walk away.

This is just an example of how older generations may be more than a little confused by the 20-30s crowd.  The future is important.  Careers, education, success - all things that matter, and maybe more than ever.  That's not saying that traditional relationships have went out of the window, but not everyone is looking for a long term commitment.  It's not exactly as if I am NOT looking for "the real thing," but there are a lot of things up in the air and I don't think there's anything wrong with just wanting someone to spend time with; someone that may or may not be part of that future.  Obviously, you can't control your emotions, at least not completely.  There is a chance that a summer romance can turn into something more, but is it really that offensive of an idea, monotonous casual dating with the understanding that if something professionally or educationally comes up it that might be it? 

Sometimes the best memories are moments that just were what they were, nothing more, nothing less. 

Day 103: Light at the End of the Tunnel

If you've been following my journey of non-shopping, then you may be aware that my personal shopping hiatus ends in just two weeks.  103 days strong and still going.  I can't say that this experience was exactly what I imagined going into it.  I pictured shopping cravings to hit like food cravings, and desperate pleas in the form of text messages and e-mailed wish lists to go out starting from Day 8.  For the most part, it has been pretty smooth sailing.

Although, there were definitely moments that I felt an urge to throw on some shoes, grab my purse and plunge into the depths of shopping, I've maintained a pretty consistent low key lifestyle over the last few months.  Right now, the effort to stay clam during the sea of final papers that are swirling around my desk is definitely helping the cause.  I have no more time to contemplate the latest styles than I do to have an all-weekend movie marathon.  With crunch time upon me, it's eases the focus on other superficial areas of my life.

I had planned to lift my ban on May 4th, however, finals in mind - May 10 after finals are over seem more appropriate (and even, since I began on January 10th).

Too bad I never found a generous sponsor..