Shoulder Surreal

Taking all sorts of shots as my learning curve with my Diana F+ continues... This is taken over Sweetie-pie's shoulder, looking into my bedroom.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

The Little Flea Market Foxes

The perfect pet... no feeding or litterbox required and great for channeling your inner Bette Davis. I may just buy these guys some day.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Sunday, Lazy Sunday

Not making the bed today...

Here's the first of my "Unmade Bed" series, something I've been thinking about for years, but finally have the right camera to bring it to fruition.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Left Foot and Chanel - Color Redux

Voila Cheris! Here's the color version of my alleyway Chanel amongst the flowers. Have to say I'm very pleased since the bright fuschia of the foliage is what caught my eye in the first place. And I'm only using expired film, adding another layer of delicious chaos to my artistic baklava...

Went to the Getty today with darling friend Julia (another birthday adventure!) and between freezing my derriere, a yummy lunch and taking in the Jo Ann Callis and Peter Outerbridge photography exhibits, I shot a roll during the few moments the sun graced us... and put my feet in the fountain!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

All the Way From Singapore - Maya & Ruhi Artisan Jewelry

I actually squealed when these golden pearly beauties arrived in the mail yesterday, they are that pretty!!! And I owe it all to one of my absolute favorite bloggers, This is Glamorous.

The day before my birthday (last week), she posted a give-away for a gorgeous purple agate cuff bracelet from etsy jewelry line, Maya & Ruhi, which I promptly entered into (keeping fingers crossed) and as I was checking out the rest of the jewelry line, fell into serious bauble-lust. Sweetie-pie wondered what I was oohing and ahhing about, so I showed him and wonderful sneak that he is, made a mental note and ordered them as a late birthday surprise. I couldn't be more tickled.

Merci TIG for all your inspiration and for leading me to my favorite new bauble(s)!

Merci Pearl at Maya & Ruhi for creating beautiful, natural and affordable wearable art!

Merci Sweetie-pie for being the best Sweetie-pie.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Somebody Really Hates Gucci

Was doing laundry at laundry-mat yesterday (ah yes, the glamour) and spied the opposite side of this postcard advertising Gucci's spring/summer sale poking out of the trash, so of course I fished it out, turned it over and discovered somebody's artwork expressing some very strong feelings about the fashion house. It was just too good not to take home and share with you.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Left Foot and Chanel in the Alley

Saw this discarded in the alley behind the Chanel store on Robertson, so I sat down and took this pic. Originally shot with expired color film, then converted to b&w due to severe overexposure. I'm having the lab develop the color version, and keeping my fingers crossed, because those are pink flowers the bag is sitting in and covered with.

Oh and if you ever see a girly-girl sitting in an alley or stooping in the gutter with a camera... oui, c'est moi!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Shameful Blight on Swall

Once a beautiful little house built in the 1930's, then sold and left empty for years (due to owner unable to get permits to tear down and put up condos), put up for sale again, then caught fire (hmm) last December 2008 and has been in this sorry and very sad state since. And it's still for sale! This may sound pie-in-the-sky, but since it needs to be torn down anyway and it's made no $$$ for years, why not turn it into a pocket park for a neighborhood who could use a little "greening" and take the tax break for donating the land to West Hollywood?

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Red Cadillac El Dorado Reflections

Came across a gorgeous and pristine cherry-red vintage Cadillac El Dorado parked on Beverly Blvd this past Sunday, so I sat on the curb to take this rosy self portrait.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Amy With Parasol

My first portrait with my Diana F+ of my darling friend Amy, holding my parasol as we stood in the middle of a soccer field after an afternoon of flea marketing at Fairfax High.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Monday Monday

This pic (by Sweetie-pie) of us fulfills my aspirations of looking like part of a groovy sixties folk group a la the Mamas and the Papas, whom I absolutely adore...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Mean Bitch in my Hood

Spent lovely and breezy day taking my Diana F+ to the Fairfax Flea Market (where darling friend Amy bought me a groovy dress re-worked from a vintage pillowcase for my birthday!) and after returning home, picked up Sweetie-pie and his camera(s) to stroll around the neighborhood. My street is closed today due to crane work and parked to the side was this charming and colorful 18 wheel semi. Really, it was just begging to be photographed! That's three rolls now to be developed!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

1st Self Portrait with Diana F+

Wondering what adventures are on the horizon...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Gas Station Roses

Must resist temptation to stop and photograph every flower I come across...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Oh... El Coyote

I have some very mixed feelings towards this old and strange LA Mexican (yes loosely phrased) restaurant on Beverly Blvd, which I realize is rare, because most people have very STRONG feelings for many various reasons. I'm not kidding, people either love it or hate it and nobody, but nobody says they ever go for the food.

Let me go back a few years (2000 yikes) when Sweetie-Pie and I moved here and were broke broke broke (SP would say now we're just broke lol) and we knew nothing/nobody and spent 2 months surfing our one friend's couch and various cheap motels (ah yes it builds character). Good times. El Coyote was the first place we ate at, because I remembered Sharon Tate had her last meal there (ok, so I have a macabre tilt from time to time). I have to admit it (and no snarks, please) I enjoyed my meal and the chips and the funky colorful waitstaff and the extremely eclectic clientele. It was dinner and a show for two people for under $20 and for years we went once/twice a month, usually in the late afternoon to avoid crowds.

Then Prop 8 happened (staunchly AGAINST) and one of the owner's (Marjorie) donated $200 and listed the restaurant on her donation form. As a Mormon, apparently she feared for her soul not to donate, but not enough to stop her from making $$$ off selling lots of margaritas (what most people go there for I hear) to a large gay clientele for years on end, or hiring gay waitstaff (who not only lost their rights, but now perhaps their jobs). The ensuing boycott forced Marjorie into hiding and I'm assuming she no longer goes there. I hear business has never been the same.

It's six months later now and curiosity beckoned me to visit and see if there was a discernible difference and... yeah... it was different. Now I realize this particular time may have been a fluke, but even though it was fairly full, it was quieter, full of families and we couldn't see anyone drinking and only a couple people in the bar. Even the patio seemed a bit... tame. Not that this is bad, just different, but I wonder if they've suffered due to lack of alcohol sales, which I suspect was their main source of income. Now I think it's actually karma if they lose those sales, because it's hypocritical to make money off something your dogma stipulates as "vice", especially if it's money from people you view as inferior. Really, how can you pray that sin away?

However, I really don't want the restaurant to go under, nor want anyone to lose their jobs. It's one of the last few old/strange/funky/divey places that I think LA needs to retain some character. I just wish the owners would get their priorities straight.

SP took this pic on our way back to the parking lot. I liked them on the negative side by side, so he made a diptych for me.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

My First Ever Diana F+ Pic!

Birthday lunch at Breadbar (addicted, oui!) and the manager was so sweet and created an incredible mini-dessert sampler (chocolate souffle, creme brulee and bread pudding) for me to share.

As you can see, I had difficulty advancing the frame and a double exposure occurred. That's what I love about this camera, a marriage of creativity and chaos.

I just finished shooting the second roll today, mainly in my neighborhood alleyways and keeping fingers crossed, will have something groovy to post next week!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Almost Summer on Fairfax

Channeling the Cote d' Azur with a colorful floral 60's ebay dress (re-worked by changing neckline), my favorite vintage Italian rattan purse (fully lined in fabric that almost matches my dress) and gold sandals (quel surprise)... life's too short to be drab.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

One Tired Birthday Girl

After dinner, on the steps leading to my apartment...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

A Jar-ring Birthday Experience

Sweetie-pie took me to Jar for the first time for my birthday (6/3) and a lovely time was had by all... Divine Kobe steak (my first), mashed potatoes and sauteed pea tendrils (both shared) and then... oh yes... butterscotch pudding with salted caramel sauce that we shared and couldn't finish, despite really wanting too.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

http://www.thejar.com/

Birthday Haul - Gemini's Rule!

Diana F+ Nightcap plastic camera from husband for the artist side and a 1930's French hand-beaded evening bag from my dearest darling friends & neighbors (Camille and Lisa!) for the vintage girly girl side! The butterfly was part of the wrapping and is now part of my bedroom decor. Everything accented with gold... ah yes, I love my birthday!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

ps. Is it wrong to brag that I share my birthday with Josephine Baker and Tony Curtis? I aspire to their cool...