my love for you is a stampede of horses.

there's another sun we seek.

so i've expressed my love for the moldy doily as much as i can...i mean, i'm not ashamed of jocking kime's blog.  it's fantastic.  and! it's brought quite bit of traffic to my blog...which is in and of itself completely exciting and so kind of kime to link me.  so...i will continue to sweat kime buzzelli because loving is as loving does.

anyway, my point is that i have met a few lovely people in the blogosphere.  it's a real treat actually, i know i sound a bit like a pollyanna (which if you ever met me you would know i come as close to a pollyanna as a...god, i don't know, but that is not a word that would come to mind in meeting me.).  it really has been a great experience these past couple of months.  recently by way of kime's blog, a girl by the name of adrienne sent me a really sweet email introducing me to her band coal beautiere.  the band consists of her and her husband.

i really love adrienne's voice.  i don't have a myspace account anymore...as i suicided off that moral abyss at the beginning of the year (3rd time's a charm).  but.  i go onto her page everyday to listen to the sweet melodies.  they are tinny and sweet, w/ bells, birds chirping, tinkley pianos and haunting singing.  completely right up my alley.

i patiently await the arrival of their album in september.  the band is playing mama buzz in oakland tomorrow night.

choose your own adventure.

there has been an inter-active stencil story popping up on corners in the mission.  it's a choose your own adventure street art project w/ the possibility of two endings  it's so well done aesthetically and conceptually.  the writing is sweet and tender, images easily arise as you stand there on 18th and valencia.

i haven't had a chance to actually follow the "story" yet.  and to be honest, i'm not sure i will.  i like just happening upon the stencils as i wait for the light to change or as i turn a corner.  i will say this though...i saw the actual "end" to the story tonight...and i didn't read it!  ha!  i just couldn't bring myself to do it.  i haven't seen all of them yet.  and i'm never one to want to end the party early.

you can see some of the photos and read more about it on this flickr page.

you are beautiful.

the main reason i started this blog was to write posts about all things i found wonderful.  one of my favorite projects that has been on the web for a few years is you are beautiful out of chicago, illinois.  it's a small project that has grown out of the shear greatness of a simple idea.  the project has been spread all over the world.  just three simple words: you are beautiful.  plain, simple, positive.

as their statement qualifies...

"You Are Beautiful is a simple, powerful statement which is incorporated into the over absorption of mass media and lifestyles that are wrapped in consumer culture.

The intention behind this project is to reach beyond ourselves as individuals to make a difference by creating moments of positive self realization. We're just attempting to make the world a little better.

Intention is the most important aspect of the You Are Beautiful project in its idea of purity. Nothing is sacred. Everything that has a perceived value becomes commodified. We work extremely hard that this message is received as a simple act of kindness, and nothing more.

Advertising elicits a response to buy, where this project elicits a response to do something. The attempt with You Are Beautiful is to create activism instead of consumerism.

You Are Beautiful uses the medium of advertising and commercialization to spread a positive message.  Projects like these make a difference in the world by catching us in the midst of daily life and creating moments of positive self realization."

if you want your own stickers to put out in the world and to help spread the message, all you have to do is send a s.a.s.e to the address  on their website.  or you can put a loved ones name on that envelope and have them get the packet in the mail.  which in and of itself is spreading the message.

another way you can get involved is by making your own "you are beautiful" piece.  the people at you are beautiful just ask three things of you...

1. you do not sell what you make.
2. you do not make any products (even given away or free of charge)
3. be respectful of your installations.

i can't think of a better way to spend a day.  you can check out their website for inspiration.  www.you-are-beautiful.com.