6.24.2011

All The Things...

Packing away...

Staycation Memphis {A story in Photos}

~~Graceland~~

~~Stax~~

Wild Bills

Sun Studio

Amidst the craziness of making arrangements to move next week (!!), Darling and I have been setting aside time to soak in the things that make Memphis, Memphis, as we reflect on the growth we've had and all amazing things we've seen, done, tasted, and experienced here. We ran morning errands and made requisite phone calls but also spent a portion of the afternoon as tourists in our town. {First} Brunch at The Arcade (the oldest cafe in Memphis) {Second} Tour of Graceland {Third} Tour of Stax Museum:

coffee + eggs over easy + biscuits and gravy + hashbrowns

The day was unbelievably muggy and humid

Even after the declaration, "no more vinyl till after we move!" (we keep finding ourselves trading-in and purchasing at Goner and Shangri-la) we purchased a couple of great records at the Satellite Record Shop connected to Stax before rounding off the evening with a Dick Dale concert at the Hi Tone.

That's right, surf rock legend Dick Dale rocked. it. out. here in Memphis! The skill and energy with which he played, even in his late 70s, was unreal. I love surf rock when it is aggressive and filled with the sexy tension of a bullfight, or flamenco, lending itself to a unique and playful juxtaposition of sound, imagery, and influence. He captivated the audience with short tales of hanging out with Elvis and Johnny Cash and threw in some fun, dancey covers to sing along to. It was a show for the books, right up there with Willie Nelson and Robert Plant. I swear to it, if you get a chance go see him, don't miss the opportunity. I remember he played annually in SLC while I was there, often in a tiny bar for $10-$15. Amazing.

In more current news of getting a much needed reality check, today is my last day at work.

whoa.

6.22.2011

A Lesson in Patience

Image via Rodeo

I do not worry for I trust my love and my self but I feel the current of uneasy, excited angst firing in every synapse. The tension of turquoise. Not the lush, heavy, green of the earth, nor the pale blue of the celestial but a margin of conflict in the interim. My faith in the law of balance is strong (actio et reaction) but as my mind flutters high into the cerebral realm—reeling, reeling—an equal heaviness pools in the pit of my core, sinking low and deep. In the constant presence of anxiety I am not free to rest, or to find contentedness, or a guarantor. I swim (or fly) through a self-manufactured space, an imposter of the reality waiting around the corner. My body is hungry, seeking a sensory validation that is impossible, presently. The patterns of my body are the same, only the patterns of my body are the same. Daily motion. I have not found a way to reconcile my two halves, I have not really began to say goodbye. Even in sleep—reeling, reeling. The tension pervades into every facet and the balance I crave can only be felt in extremes, the meridians of high and lows. All is surreal.

6.20.2011

Bookish {- Adjective. 1. given or devoted to reading or study.} 2011

The Strange Case of Edward Gorey - Alexander Theroux

I remember seeing my first Edward Gorey book in the sixth grade. I was fascinated. The dark, tiny illustrations with their meticulous, obsessive attention to detail coupled with text that was both archaic and witty--I thought it was hilarious, inappropriate, and intriguing. Since then, I have had a real fondness for the work of Mr. Gorey. I was excited when Darling brought home what I suspected to be a biography of the artist, unfortunately, the work didn't fulfill my expectations. One Goodreads reviewer put it perfectly:

A bizarre tribute/biography of Gorey by a friend and collaborator. The tone is certainly Gorey-Victorian. Bring your thesaurus. This book is a pretentious name-dropping nightmare. It is fine when done to give a snapshot of Gorey's likes and dislikes, but way overdone.

The book serves as a catalog and platform for Mr. Theroux to show us just how many obscure references and terms he could put to use while partially relaying conversations he had with Mr. Gorey. The writing was pretentious and wordy to the point of using parenthetical statements to explain itself and define words for the reader--there is something to be said for clarity and accessibility. More than a few times Theroux talks in circles, oftentimes recycling information; the disorganization of the text is distracting. I found myself put out by the author's insertion of himself so boldly in the forefront of the text. Rather than adding a sense of intimacy to the story, I found the author trying to outshine his subject. The most interesting parts were those about Gorey (the first time they were mentioned) and the included illustrations and posters.

6.16.2011

Bookish {- Adjective. 1. given or devoted to reading or study.} 2011

Woodswoman: Living Alone in the Adirondack Wilderness - Anne LaBastille

Woodswoman will not be categorized in "best" or most insightful books I've ever read. The prose isn't unique, outstanding, or particularly articulate. I actually found Miss LaBastille very early on ran out of adjectives and everything was over-simplified, boiled down to "rustic." This is not to say that rustic is inaccurate, in fact, it's probably the most exacting descriptor for a life lived in a hand-built cabin in the middle of the Adirondacks, but with continuous repetition it is certain to get old. What makes Anne's writing compelling is the meat of the stories themselves. After her divorce, Anne purchased 22 acres in the Adirondack Wilderness of New York State, hired a pair of brothers to assist her in building a log cabin home and learned to live on her own, in the wild, writing for income, with a sweet German Shepherd for company. Originally published in 1976, the wildlife ecologist's stories and insight into a more sustainable lifestyle is both progressive and empowering. It's a quick read, the writing is conversational and the unpretentious tone makes it very accessible. I imagine her voice as she narrates, the mixing and embellishing of details that bring the book to life as being told over coffee in the cabin itself--real person, real stories. If anything the book serves as an inspiration to choose, with intention, how and why and where you live your life. To create with your own hands the life you find most fulfilling. Great for summer + adventuring minds + wanderlust + girl power.

6.15.2011

Postal

Fresh to Death {Home Tour}

Image from Apartment Therapy

While searching for some "make the most of your small space" inspiration, I came across this awesome House Tour. Yes, I too enjoy the BHG or Anthology magazine aesthetic--the eclectic mix of rustic and modern that has been carefully chosen and whimsically placed, you know, it's been the look for a while now--but I can totally see Darling and I (while remaining true to our styles and preferences) rocking out a space that takes ourselves a little less seriously for years to come still. I found it very refreshing to see something with so much vibrancy and personality while still displaying great taste and a distinct (cohesive) aesthetic preference. It's a lot more stuff than I think I'm willing to take on at this time but it's working in the context. It looks like such a great space to kick it in.

Feel free to send me any inspiration or cool/efficient storage solutions if you come across 'em in your browsing!

e {dot} sissyjupe {at} gmail {dot} com

6.13.2011

Nice Place to Make a Home

Ladies and Gents, we officially have a charming space to call home in Brooklyn, NY. After copious amounts of information gathering, ca$$$$h money, and hours on the phone, Darling squared away the deal and has returned home to Memphis in just 5 days time, I think its a record. Certainly you already know that in NY real estate speak "charming" is code for "tiny"... alas, that's Nueva York! We are moving from our glorious 1200 sq ft duplex into a 1 bedroom space that measures at approximately 400 sq ft -- talk about adjustment. I think we really lucked out though, we do have lots of the good things we were looking for in the new space, namely: a private backyard (a rare gem in the city), are wicked close to gorgeous Prospect Park (which has daily off-leash hours), washer and dryer hookups, exclusive access to basement storage, and is very close to a convenient subway station. Ultimately, we think that an ideal situation for Cash (backyard + park) is going to be the greater convenience and that it is worth sacrificing in square footage for the best setup we can afford (the price tag is high, folks).

It's really happening.

Each item, to my amazement, is being checked off the list... It still feels as though I'm working in the abstract, though. I desperately need the reality check of something concrete, corporeal, sensual in order to feel sane. Instead it feels like I've spent these past few weeks treading water -- going nowhere, floating in a vast, open space of my own conjuring. My eyes are hungry to see for themselves, but instead it's all being imagined in my head. I haven't even seen a photo of our new digs... its crazy. Inevitably, it (the real) is sure to come very soon.

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and support.

It helps more than you can ever realize.

Keep you posted...

6.10.2011

Doppelganger {Sister}

Apparently my Cash has a sister living in Austen, TX. It's extra weird because I've never seen a dog that looks like Cash before, ever. Someone is giving this sweet girl away for free, I have an urge to start collecting adorable identical mutts.

Maybe she can help us unlock the secret to Cashman's mysterious breed mixture.

Trips me out, so uncanny.

6.09.2011

Bucket List {Memphis}

Not long ago I was feeling all kinds of tender toward this city on the bluff... I'm beginning to process just how soon I'll be leaving this kooky, wonderful, unique place. There are a few things on my Memphis Bucket List despite all the craziness that is all around me. It feels wrong (shameful, even) to spend two years here without partaking in the following biggies:

1. Graceland

Graceland is a large white-columned mansion and 13.8-acre estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in the vast Whitehaven community about 9 miles from Downtown and less than four miles north of the Mississippi border. It currently serves as a museum. It was opened to the public on June 7, 1982. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1991 and declared a National Historic Landmark on March 27, 2006. Graceland has become the second most-visited private home in America with over 600,000 visitors a year; only the White House has more visitors per year. (wiki)

2. Sun Studios

Sun Studio is a recording studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950. It was originally called Memphis Recording Service, sharing the same building with the Sun Records label business. Reputedly the first rock-and-roll single, Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats' "Rocket 88" was recorded there in 1951 with song composer Ike Turner on keyboards, leading the studio to claim status as the birthplace of rock & roll. Blues and R&B artists like Howlin' Wolf, Junior Parker, Little Milton, B.B. King, James Cotton, Rufus Thomas, and Rosco Gordon recorded there in the early 1950s. (wiki)

3. Stax Museum

Because the Stax Museum is one of only a handful of museums in the world dedicated to soul music (the Motown Museum in Detroit is another), it not only celebrates the legacy of Stax Records and its artists such as Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, the Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Booker T. & the MGs, Rufus and Carla Thomas and others, but also features other soul music labels such as Motown, Hi Records, Atlantic Records, and Muscle Shoals, and visitors are treated to vintage video footage of non-Stax artists such as Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Ann Peebles, The Jackson Five, Patti LaBelle, Parliament-Funkadelic, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ike & Tina Turner, and others. (wiki)

4. Wild Bills

Wild Bill’s is an out-of-the-way hole-in-the-wall delta juke joint with live music, chitlins, and beer by the quart. Bring your own liquor and stay all night. You can’t get more down-home Memphis than this.

So Memphians, what else? What needs to be seen, done, tasted?

I want to soak it in, if ever I can find a moment....

6.08.2011

Lexicon {Lesson 1}

When moving to New York City one must immediately learn to adopt a new dialect and vocabulary, for surely familiar words and idioms acquire unexpected meanings in the new locale. I believe our dear Alice never did travel to Wonderland but rather Gotham, ahem, "Nothing would what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what it is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"

Exhibit A

6.06.2011

Finding Your First NYC Apartment

...Sheesh...

it's slightly disheartening, although, I do appreciate the honesty

6.03.2011

You Ain't Know Nothin Bout The Big City, Lil Girl

The time has come to officially/formally announce the news of relocation:

Brooklyn, NY

Darling has signed a contract with a school in the heart of BK and it seems like the next logical move for us. It's incredibly exciting, overwhelming, stressful, hopeful--all of the above. We have so much to do in order to get ourselves there in just under one month's time so there will most likely be a lull in posting; however, all your good juju, lovin, well-wishes of luck and hints about jobs or apartments are welcome!