feeling is mutual-- the blog!

8/01/2007

Three... three... three posts in one!

1.Why is it that whenever I use stock photography featuring "people-of-a-color-other-than-white" I have to have the awkward "it's a little too ethnic" discussion? Is this a normal customer reaction in all markets? How do you, as a designer, respond to customer requests for white-washing?

It really puts me in an awkward place morally as I have to find a happy medium between the client pleasing oh yes, what was I thinking!? White upper middle class faces coming right up! and self-righteous scorn. In my experience, when a client is given the choice of two ads, identical in every way other than the model's ethnicity, the client will always always choose the ad featuring the white model.

If any social scientist out there would like to conduct a study on race relations within small market advertising, I'm totally down with providing the data.

2. Check out this write up of ol' Tim Youmans published this week in the News-Star. It's not every day that someone essentially dubs you a present day incarnation of Woody Guthrie. I especially appreciated that the story gave me not one but TWO opportunities to say "Oh yeah, that Woody Guthrie guy? He was my marriage counselor." I don't get to name drop often so it was a very special day for me.
I saw Tim at lunch yesterday but I was too socially awkward to say hello... what with his new found fame and all. Listen to his free music for folks at myspace.com/timseantunes. Listen to the pretty melodies but to the lyrics above all. I can especially get down on (in a meditative way) the song "A Pretty Good Time", a touching tribute to Tim's youth group at First Baptist.

we will have a pretty good time
please be safe, in all the right ways
we’ll find there’s so much to give up
and in that, so much to gain
remember God in the days of youth
before we tire and grow weary
and we will have a pretty good time
as our lives shimmer and shine

3. On our way to OKC for our first official meeting of the Obama campaign volunteers, Chris and I were so psyched that, if asked, we would have driven all the way to Iowa to begin canvassing that very night! We had Hope in our hearts and Policy Reform on our lips! There was no greater man in Washington than Barack Obama and we, THE PEOPLE, were going to storm the White House in his name.

As we drove down the highway I imagined all the volunteers meeting together for the first time like old friends – all of us united in purpose. We'd pile on a bus to the tune of bird chirps and laughing children. We would all join and hands, guitars would come out of no where, and "We Shall Overcome" would be sung in 3 part harmony all the way to Des Moines! Somewhere, someone would buy the world a Coke.

Oh. My. Lord. What a gigantically excruciating disappointment.

When the meeting was adjourned we trudged back to our car... the only hope we had left was the hope that we would never ever see any of those people ever again.

Come with me on a journey towards disillusionment: The scene: An over crowded banquet room at "On the Border". Imagine that every person in the room was driven to attend the rally out of a desire for business networking rather than any kind of "audacious hope" for American politics. Imagine two straight hours of straining to hear the speaker over the "I'm richer than you" one-up manship going on around you. Watch in awe as business cards materialize out of thin air along with empty requests to "get with" their "people". Also, imagine that your refried beans were dry and crusty from being under a heat lamp too long and that the guy next to you, practically in your lap, is a little more than tipsy from a margarita the size of your head. Watch in disgust as Tipsy Man seems to really enjoy touching all the chips in the communal chip bowl.

Awesome.

"But Marissa", you say, "I was there! It was hardly the colossal waste of time and gas money that you imply!" Than I guess we weren't at the same table then, were we?

Special quotes from the evening:

"I would love to attend the Barack-B-Que, but I'll be in Aspen that weekend."

"Do you know _insert obscure name drop_?" "Oh yes! Her family used to summer near our beach home!"

"I'm voting for Mitt Romney anyway - have to look out for the ol' wallet."

Which brings to mind one other quote "I like your Obama, I do not like your Obama Mamas. Your Obama Mamas are so unlike your Barack Obama.” You tell'em Gahndi.

Thank you for letting me get this off my chest. Chris won't let me talk about it anymore.

Labels: barack obama, christianity, life, music, oklahoma, politics, work

posted at 7:46 PM

1 comments

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4/06/2007

Has anyone in this vast community of the interwebs read any books out of "The Voice" project? Lauren Winner's contribution,The Voice of Matthew, recently popped up on my amazon recommended list, and I was thinking about making the buy. Not that it's a huge purchase or anything but my "to read" shelf is becoming a little daunting.

It's snowing here in Oklahoma... It's EASTER for crying out loud. I am NOT okay with this. However, it did provide me with a nice opportunity for an "I told you so" since it took some prodding to get Chris to cover the tomato plants last night. I won't say it out loud because, as you know, I am the world's most perfect wife. My inner monologue is quite the harpy though.

Labels: books christianity, life, oklahoma

posted at 11:49 AM

2 comments

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3/20/2007

Yesterday Chris, Aaron and I were privileged to attend Barack Obama's rally at the OKC Farmer's Market. I broke loose of the boys early on since we of short and stubby stature have a better shot at a decent vantage point when unincumbered by tall people. I'd like to give a special thanks to all the very kind, very tall men who offered to help me move up in the crowd.

One of the things I appreciated most about the rally was the climate of friendliness and community that was present among both staff and attendees. Despite the fact that we were packed in like cattle with what seemed like heat lamps above us, I never heard an ill tempered comment or witnessed any rude behavior. People easily joked and conversed with their neighbors. If I was a new age hippie, I would tell you that the room was filled with a positive energy (I might also say something about auras and spirit and...what is that smell?! Patchouli?).

And that's what this whole campaign is about–community... "the people"... Us. Sen. Obama's aim is to create a stronger community amongst the American people, focusing on ideas and issues that are universal concerns.

But nearly every campaign lays a claim on these ideals, right? It seems naive to believe that the best interest of the nation could truly be at the heart of a campaign, as opposed to the candidate's personal ambitions and desire for power. But when Sen. Obama says it, for some reason I believe it. I'm not the only one either. And like Sen. Obama said yesterday during his speech, "Every time the American people decide that things need to change, they change. When a million voices come together and make a decision that we're going to have change, we're going to have change."

It's been said many times that the people who are most appropriate for the role of president would never even consider the position because of the vanity and ruthlessness required. What other politician in recent memory could be described as "genuine", "honest", or "sincere"? How about "humble"? Sen. Obama is all of these things. Finally, a decent man has stepped up to the challenge. Sen. Obama is willing to put himself on the line because of, what appears to be, a genuine desire to change the United States for the better.

We don't admire him because of his celebrity or his "rock star status". We don't rally because we think he's physically attractive. We stand beside Sen. Obama because, in order to lead a nation, we understand that it takes much more than these superficial qualities. After all, wasn't it the election of charm and "good looks" that got us stuck with the last guy? At least this time around, maybe the soccer moms will be on our side.

I'll be adding links to accounts and pics from the rally as I find them. If you have anything to share please let me know in the comments!

• AP News Wire story from ABC News
• OklahomaObama.com
• BarackObama.com
• OK Blue Notes Official weblog for the Oklahoma Democratic Party
• Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum Obama Rally Thread
• Photos from Flickr:
feelingismutual (me), tjsinokc, tamihollidayelder, fierce bunny

Labels: barack obama, event, flickr, life, oklahoma, politics

posted at 12:15 PM

2 comments

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11/08/2006

What a beautiful day! It may be November but the sun is shinning, the grass is green, it's 80 degrees outside and the world is smiling!

Ever since I started caring about such things, Election Days always put me in knots and every single one has been a disappointment. But not this one! Rumsfeld was just icing on the yummiest cake ever (not that gross crisco frosting either.... the good stuff!). I don't even mind that my candidate lost since everything else went so well.

Let me tell you, there's nothing more depressing than a watch party for a losing candidate. I hate to see a grown man cry but, luckily, Chris and I left dinner on the stove so we had an excuse to leave early. I was going to play the hand shaking game before I left but skipped it since I thought it would seem like I was cutting out because we were on the losing team. Also, I didn't want them to retract all the wonderful things they said about me before the numbers started to come in!

I loved working in politics though, and I hope I have the opportunity to help other campaigns in the future. But only campaigns that don't have a vindictive old man running sabotage with dirty ad shenanigans (Just a tip for those with a future in politics, especially in Pottawatomie County– When you fire the guy who writes your ad copy, make sure you do so without bruising his pride. If you tick him off, his negative ad backlash will be quick and brutal).

Labels: life, oklahoma, politics

posted at 3:15 PM

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9/27/2006

As part of the weekend's birthday festivities (psssst... my 25th birthday is tomorrow...), The Chris and I will be attending The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's 12x12 Show.
You can come too! The show will be held at 410 Walnut Ave. in downtown OKC. Tickets are $24 in advance and $30 at the door. All proceeds will go to OVAC's many programs and grants that they offer to artists in Oklahoma (last year they raised $40,000). For more info visit OVAC online.

Labels: artists, event, oklahoma

posted at 4:19 PM

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9/18/2006

You know what I'm craving today? A nice spinach salad. It's a cruel, cruel world.

Look at all these suckers

My dream of becoming the "best juror ever" was cut short this morning after being in the courthouse for a total of one hour and 15 minutes.

I knew that the jury duty elves were working against me from the beginning. While in line for the court clerk, I overheard the attorney for the defense talking to the DA, something about having "no witnesses, and no case"... ohhhhhh bad sign.

When we checked in, the court clerk divided us in half with red and blue badges. Within an hour there was a coin toss (no really...a literal coin toss) and all the red badges were told they could leave. Weeks of excitement and anticipation led up to this single moment, and my jury duty fate was left up to a coin toss? Bah!

I don't care how light your docket is, I had a full week of pay on the line that didn't require actual work! Give me charts to file, envelopes to stamp, I'll pick up your pretty robes from the dry cleaners... anything to keep me in that courthouse for longer than an hour and 15 minutes!

I didn't even get to watch the orientation video! I love orientation videos... in college I went through training at Denny's for the sole benefit of watching sensitivity videos while drinking free coffee. Best 5 hours of my life.

I won't complain too much though... $20 for less than two hours of work? I made more money as a juror than I do at the day job. How many people can say that? Suckas!

I was summoned to jury duty and all I got was this lousy button.

Hey marriage licenses. We're in there!

Labels: life, oklahoma

posted at 3:17 PM

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9/04/2006

Happy Labor Day

Last week I worked up this illustration of "The History of Labor Day" for a special section in our paper. Sadly the piece was nixed as it was viewed by our publisher to be a little too friendly to organized labor and "not the message that we want to send out". Well. Fair enough. The guy is from Michigan so I understand his distaste for unions but when I was told to illustrate the history of Labor Day I wish someone had told me to keep the Labor Movement out of it.
So here it is...my unpublished labor of love.

And the man just keeps knockin' us down.

Our big labor day plans involved furniture re-finishment (Is that a word. Spell check says no). Chris left me alone to finish the task as he's one of the few who actually has to work on this national day of rest* and it took about 20 minutes of my inexperience to royally mess it up. Here's a tip. Don't use a power sander on ancient unidentified paint after soaking the piece down with a hose. Our last piece of fine grit sandpaper is now completely gunked up with blue paint...which is surely lead based and now seeping into my pores as it's covering my hands as well. And Chris made it sound so easy! I'm supposed to be at Lowe's right now buying more stain for our night stand...but the way thing are going I think the world is safer if I just stay indoors.

*Why is it that the downtrodden masses who inspired this holiday are the only ones forced to work it today?

Time again to vote for your favorite Oklahoma bloggers---> 2006 Okie Blog Awards. The fact that I've been nominated for bugger all should be enough to legitimize this contest (no Emmy like snafus there). Maybe if I hadn't offended the entire population of Stroud I might've had a chance. Lincoln County has mad voter power.
My favorite pre-marital counselor, Tim Youmans at Anabaptist Monk, has been justly nominated again this year for Best Inspirational Blog. I've officially begun my campaign to see that he wins it big.

Labels: art, holiday, life, oklahoma, politics, see jane work

posted at 5:17 PM

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